One of the best talents seen at Michael Johnson’s GST was Mellisa Jefferson-Wooden. Then at the USATF Championships, she showed the world what she is really made of. Her 10.65 equaled Richardson’s ’23 Worlds time as fastest by an American since Carmelita Jeter’s 10.64 in ’09. She also joined GOATS like Shelly Ann and Elaine Thompson in clocking sub-10.70 multiple times. Her 21.84 at the same event in the 200m now has her standing at No. 12 all-time among half-lap Americans. But the journey has not been easy.

“Yeah, so I actually grew up in a small town as well. So being the underdog or, you know, facing adversity and not being, or not having access to all the other resources that bigger schools and other cities may have, like it’s nothing, that’s new to me. It’s been, it’s who I am. It’s

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