U.S. Star Jefferson-Wooden Wins Women’s 100m World Championship in Record Fashion

TOKYO — Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is the new queen of sprinting.

The American stormed to the women’s 100m world title on Saturday with a championship-record 10.61 seconds, the fourth-fastest time ever. She blasted out of the blocks, built an early lead, and never let go, finishing 0.15 seconds clear of Jamaica’s Tina Clayton and 0.23 ahead of Olympic champion Julien Alfred.

“It looked easy, but it wasn’t,” the 24-year-old said after her first major title. “I trusted my training, my faith, my coaches, my village — and just focused on execution.”

Jefferson-Wooden, undefeated this season, now turns her attention to the 200m as she chases a rare sprint double. Defending champion Sha’Carri Richardson placed fifth, while Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished sixth in her farewell race.

On the men’s side, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won gold ahead of Kishane Thompson, with American Noah Lyles taking bronze. In the field, Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall dominated the women’s long jump, leaping 7.13m to secure her first world crown and extend her unbeaten streak.