USA Track Championships 2025: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden runs world’s fastest 100

Eugene On a humid Friday, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek dominated the 100-meter race with thrilling wins at Hayward Field’s USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

In the women’s final, Jefferson-Wooden showed off her heels by winning in 10.65 seconds, setting a personal record and the quickest time of the season. In 10.84, Kayla White came in far behind.

Bednarek set a personal record of 9.79 to win the men’s 100 after overcoming cramps in the middle of the race. T Mars McCallum finished third in 9.83, followed by Courtney Lindsey in second place in 9.82. The U.S. U20 record of 9.92 was set by Maurice Gleaton, who had just finished his senior year of high school.

Day 2 of the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships

Even missing Sha Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, the current 2023 world champions, the 100s were blazingly quick. Both entered the World Athletics Outdoor Championships as wildcards, participated in the first round, and then pulled out.

There may have been extenuating factors in Richardson’s case. She was arrested on Sunday at SeaTac Airport following a physical confrontation with her boyfriend, Christian Coleman, according to a report published on the website LetsRun.com on Friday afternoon. Coleman advanced to the 100-meter final on Friday and placed fifth.

The way Bednarek and Jefferson-Wooden hurled down in front of 5,996 people, however, was unaffected by the news.

Although it wasn’t evident because he seemed to get stronger in the second half of the race, Bednarek claimed that the cramps struck his calves at 50 or 60 meters into the race. Just think of what he could do if he were completely well.

He stated, “There is a lot more in the tank.”

The competitor, Bednarek, has won two silver medals at the 200 Olympics. Be careful if he manages to get to the full tank in the 200 here on Sunday.

The 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Jefferson-Wooden appears to be improving.

“I’ve been dreaming of days like this, and they’re starting to come true,” said Olympic bronze medallist Jefferson-Wooden in 2024. All I have to do is keep striving for more and better things.

This might get even more intriguing if Richardson competes in Sunday’s 200.

Two veterans who excelled as University of Oregon freshmen, Jenna Prandini and English Gardner, both advanced to the 100 final. In 11.11, 32-year-old Prandini, a two-time Olympian with greater professional success in the 200, finished seventh. Gardner, 33, the 2016 Olympic Trials champion who lost her Nike sponsorship and went independent, finished seventh in 11.17.

Gardner remarked, “I have nothing to complain about.” I demonstrated everything I had worked for. Today, I was the oldest person on the line. I was elderly, Nike said. I suppose I’m too young. I’m enjoying myself. I’m having fun with track and field once more.

Prandini will return for the 200 on Sunday.

One of the five athletes honored atop the tower on the northeast side of the track is Raevyn Rogers, a former UO standout who qualified for the women’s 800 final on Sunday. In her semifinal heat, Rogers launched a daring attack, sprinting to the front and maintaining the lead for 700 meters.

She was caught on the home straight by Maggi Congdon and Sage Hurta-Klecker. They made it to the final via default. In addition to winning the final with a time of 1:58.78, Rogers’ choice to accelerate paid dividends.

Rogers stated, “I feel more confident in front of people, and I knew it was going to be quick.” Knowing that I gave it my all makes me feel good.

It was sufficient. It was not as fortunate for Athing Mu-Nikolayev.

With a time of 1:59.79, the U.S. record holder, who had a stellar track record the previous year due to hamstring problems and a tumble during the 2024 Olympic Trials, finished fourth in her heat. Though it was the fastest non-qualifier, it was still a season-best.

After placing second in her heat behind Nia Akins, veteran Ajee Wilson, 31, who took home her first U.S. outdoor crown in 2014, also secured a spot in the final. Wilson crossed in 1:58.30, and Akins in 1:58.09.

Donavan Brazier won the men’s 800 final on Sunday, continuing his ascent from the ashes on Friday. After three unsuccessful seasons and multiple operations on his left foot, the 2019 world outdoor champion has returned.

Brandon Miller crossed first in his quarterfinal in 1:44.25, and he came in second in 1:44.39. Those were the two quickest times of the day. Both runners were automatically qualifying. Brazier could not have asked for more.

Brazier, who used to train with the Union Athletics Club while it was headquartered in Portland, stated, “I wanted to get into the final and leave it all there.”

Emma Gates, who trains at Turner’s Cascade High School and currently represents the University of Arizona, placed third in the high jump with a distance of 6 feet, 3 inches. She got above and beyond 6-3 with her first jump, but needed a third-attempt clearance at 6-2 to remain in the competition.

Regarding the metric heights, Gates remarked, “Taking three attempts at 1.88 shook my confidence a little bit.” Then I regained it.

Vashti Cunningham cleared 6-5 to win the title. Second place went to Sanaa Barnes. If they meet the world qualifying standard, the best three finishers in each event get seats on the U.S. squad for the world championships in Tokyo next month. The only female high jumper who currently has is Cunningham.

If Barnes and Gates place high enough in the global points standings, they still have a chance to join the squad. Until the qualifying window expires on August 24, the points standings are a shifting target that is based on their performance as well as that of jumpers throughout the world.

According to Gates, I’m on the bubble.

The open 400 is being run by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world record holder in the women’s 400 hurdles. With the only sub-50 time of the day, a semifinal mark of 49.59, she lead all qualifiers on Friday. Later, she pleaded for interviews.

Results from the USATF Outdoor Championships are as follows:

— The Oregonian’s Ken Goe | KenGoe1020@gmail.com