“One Day, One Practice, One Meet at a Time ✨” captioned Melissa Jefferson-Wooden the day Tokyo World Athletics Championships began, and it sums up her entry into the competition. Boasting two sub-10.70s in one season and an unblemished record of 0 races lost, Jefferson-Wooden entered the Championships as a favorite for the 100 m event. After going 10.73s in the semis, the fastest among all, it was a question of whether she could fend off the competition in the main event. The American had to settle for bronze last year at the Paris Olympics, but this time? The gold was all hers.

2025 World Athletics Championships – women’s 100m final. The stage was set, and the American national champion was putting her undefeated streak on the line. Julien Alfred is looking to win Saint Lucia it first World title. Bang echoed in the stadium as the gunshot tore through the silence of Tokyo’s National Stadium. Jefferson-woodne launched out of lane 4 like a bullet out of a gun. “And they’re out and away. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had a good start as she is out and away,” the commentator noticed as she took the lead. One that she would not let go of.

Alfred and Tina Clatyon tried to catch up, by the American was just way too fast. “It is Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in a championship record,” screamed the commentator in excitement as she crossed the line in a historic 10.61 seconds. This was her third sub-10.70 of the season, but only if the records stopped there. Not only did she set a new championship record, but that time also made her the fourth fastest woman in history. Only Shelly-Ann Farser-Pryce (10.60), Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.60), and FloJo (10.54) are ahead of her. 

But what about the 100 m Olympic champion, Julien Alfred? Well, this time it was Alfred who settled for bronze (St. Lucia’s very first world championship medal) as Jamaica’s Tina Clayton ran the race of her life (literally), coming in at 10.76s, setting a new personal best, and becoming the world medalist ever in that event. Alfred followed behind at 10.84, beating Shericka Jackson (10.88 s) by a hair’s breadth. 

Sha’Carri Richardson was fifth, recording a new season best of 10.94 seconds. Shelly-Ann Farser-Pryce ran the last 100m race of her years-long career. Recording 11.03 for 6th place at 38 years of age is no joke. GOAT is all senses of that word. The performance Melissa has given today she might soon be on that list.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden: delayed but not denied

“Delayed doesn’t mean denied,” this is what the mother of the newly crowned 100m world champion used to tell her. Two years ago, when the World Championships were taking place in Budapest, Jefferson had failed to qualify. She clocked 11.03 in the 100m finals of the USATF Championships, taking the 5th place and failing to qualify. Sha’Carri Richardson won that race in 10.82. Then, 2024 gave her a breakthrough.

In the finals of the 100m Paris Olympics, Melissa won the bronze medal in 10.92s while Richardson claimed silver (10.87) and Julien Alfred took the gold (10.72). On September 13, 2025, she flipped the script as Afred came third and she finished first. The Olympic gold medalist counting today had only lost two races; the other was at the Prefontaine Classic, where Melissa won in 10.75, while Julien ran 10.77.

Other than today, Jefferson also clocked 10.66 at the Silesia Diamond League and 10.65 at the USATF Outdoor Championships – the top three fastest times of the 2025 season. Her next target must be the 200m title now, with Gabby out, she is America’s hope. Can she beat Julien Afred there as well?