Melissa Jefferson (sprinter)

For the musician Melissa Jefferson, see Lizzo.

Melissa Jefferson
OLY
Jefferson in the 4 × 100 m at the 2024 World Athletics Relays
Personal information
Born (2001-02-21) February 21, 2001 (age 23)
Georgetown, South Carolina, U.S.[1]
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack and field
Event(s)60 metres
100 metres
200 metres
College teamCoastal Carolina Chanticleers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)60m: 7.09 (2022)
100m: 10.80 (2024)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 4×100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 100 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Eugene 4×100 m relay
Gold medal – first place 2023 Budapest 4×100 m relay
World Relays
Gold medal – first place 2024 Nassau 4×100 m relay

Melissa Jefferson OLY[citation needed] (born February 21, 2001) is an American track and field sprinter. She won the bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 100 metres.[2]

Career

[edit]

Jefferson competed at Coastal Carolina University and won the NCAA Indoor 60m Championship in 2022.[3] She went on to win the 100 metres at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to qualify for the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon. Jefferson reached the final and finished eighth.[4][5][6] She was part of the 2022 US gold medal winning 4 x 100 metres relay team.[7]

She was also a member of the US team which won the 4 x 100m relay at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest.[8]

In April 2024, Jefferson was a member of the USA team which won the 4 x 100m relay at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.[9] She won the 100m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold LA Grand Prix meet in May 2024.[10] In June 2024, she finished second in the 100 metres at the 2024 United States Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, running 10.80 seconds.[11]

Jefferson (right) and her training partner, Twanisha Terry (left), at the 2024 US Olympic Trials.

International Championships

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Representing the  United States
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time Notes
2022 World Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA 100m 8th 11.03
World Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA 4x100 m relay 1st 41.14
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 4x100 m relay 1st 41.44 ran Heat only
2024 World Relays Nassau, Bahamas 4x100 m relay 1st 41.85
Olympic Games Paris, France 100 m 3rd 10.92
4x100 m relay 1st 41.78

National Championships

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Year Competition Place Event Position Time Notes
2021 NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m sf1 : 7th 11.41
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 200m sf1 : 6th 23.46
2022 NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships Birmingham, AL 60m 1st 7.09 PB
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m 8th 11.24
NCAA Division I Championships Eugene, Oregon 200m 9th 22.90
USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m 1st 10.69w +2.9 m/s
2023 USATF Championships Eugene, Oregon 100m 5th 11.07 +0.7 m/s
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 100m 2nd 10.80 +0.8 m/s PB

References

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  1. ^ Williams, Tiara (May 18, 2022). "Real Talk with Rising Star Melissa Jefferson". Track & Field Fan Hub. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Melissa JEFFERSON | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org.
  3. ^ Dunn, Brandon (March 12, 2022). "Melissa Jefferson Takes Gold in 60-Meter Dash at NCAA Championships". WPDE. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Jefferson Advances to Semifinals at 2022 World Athletics Championships". Coastal Carolina University Athletics. July 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "America's new sprint queen Melissa Jefferson ready to take on Jamaican stars". The Independent. June 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Cherry, Gene (June 25, 2022). "America's new sprint queen Melissa Jefferson ready to take on Jamaican stars". Yahoo News. Reuters. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Phillips, Mitch (July 23, 2022). "Slick U.S. women shock Jamaican superstars to win sprint relay". Reuters. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Gault, Jonathan (August 7, 2023). "USATF Announces 2023 World Championship Roster". letsrun.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "USA TRACK & FIELD ANNOUNCES FULL TEAM FOR WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS BAHAMAS 24". USATF. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "Benjamin and McLaughlin-Levrone impress in Los Angeles". World Athletics. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Henderson, Jason (June 23, 2024). "Sha'Carri Richardson wins US Olympic trials 100m in 10.71". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
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