By Paul Hof-Mahoney
September 19, 2024
100m Olympic bronze medalist and 4x100m Olympic champion Melissa Jefferson has signed as a Racer ahead of the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track in 2025.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Jefferson is the second woman to sign with Michael Johnson’s new league, joining Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, whose signing was announced alongside the league in June.
- Jefferson is joined in the “short sprints” category (100m/200m) on the men’s side by Olympic medalists Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek, who signed with the league last week.
- There are still three spots remaining for Racers in the 100m-200m category. Olympic champions Julien Alfred (100m) and Gabby Thomas (200m) remain unsigned. So too does Jefferson’s training partner, 2023 100m World champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
Photo by Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
What they had to say:
Commissioner Michael Johnson (via press release): “Our roster of racers continues to go from strength to strength, and the addition of Melissa is the next step forward for Grand Slam Track. Melissa is a superb athlete, and quite clearly one of the fastest women in the world. Her exploits in Paris this summer only continued to prove just how talented she is, and having such an impressive first Olympic Games show exactly why we wanted her to be a part of Grand Slam Track. Melissa expresses an infectious joy when racing, and we can't wait to see it at our Slams. We’re delighted to bring her into the GST family, and I know track fans all around the world will be excited to see her burning down the home straight in all four of our Slams in 2025.”
Jefferson (via press release): “I’m delighted to have signed with Grand Slam Track, and cannot wait to get started with this incredibly exciting league. The opportunity to be a part of a project like this - which is changing our sport for the better, forever - is an honor and a privilege. Michael’s vision for the league is fantastic, and their desire to put athletes and fans first is so refreshing. I firmly believe Grand Slam Track is going to be a massive step forward for our sport. I’m looking forward to seeing the fans at our four Slams in 2025, and competing on the track to find out who truly is the fastest woman in the world.”
Why Jefferson makes sense:
- 100m Season’s Best: 10.80
- 200m Personal Best: 22.46 (2022)
Jefferson’s decision to join coach Dennis Mitchell and the Star Athletics club in Florida paid dividends last year. After failing to break 11 seconds in 2023, she did so on seven occasions last year, including her last six 100m races in a row. She capped off her first season under Mitchell’s tutelage with an Olympic bronze over the 100m in 10.92 and then ran the leadoff leg for the Olympic champion 4x100m team.
Since turning professional in the summer of 2022, Jefferson hasn’t made the 200m a focus. She did not race the distance at all this season and only contested it three times in 2023. She definitely has some chops at the 200m, as she ran her PB of 22.46 during her junior year at Coastal Carolina and was a finalist at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Bednarek, a two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist, is also a Star Athletics athlete, so Mitchell should have no issue getting Jefferson much faster than that collegiate PB.
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Paul Hof-Mahoney
Paul is currently a student at the University of Florida (Go Gators) and is incredibly excited to be making his way into the track and field scene. He loves getting the opportunity to showcase the fascinating storylines that build up year-over-year across all events (but especially the throws).
