Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Provides Major Prefontaine Classic Update

Reigning Prefontaine Classic champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is set to defend her title at the 2026 event, returning to the iconic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

The South Carolina native will star in the women's 100m on Saturday, July 4th.

The competition is the ninth stop on the 2026 Wanda Diamond League circuit and will take place over two days.

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Jefferson-Wooden's victory at last year's Pre Classic, where she clocked a blistering 10.75, ignited a remarkable season for the former Coastal Carolina University athlete. Just one month later, she returned to Hayward Field for the 2025 USA Track & Field Championships, improving her time to an impressive 10.65.

This performance secured her the American title and a place on Team USA for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

In Tokyo, Jefferson-Wooden achieved a rare sprinting "Triple Crown," winning gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. These victories brought her total to five world titles, adding to her 4x100m relay golds from Oregon (2022) and Budapest (2023).

Her decorated career also includes a bronze medal in the 100m and a gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Currently ranked world No. 1 in the 100m, Jefferson-Wooden consistently delivered elite performances throughout the 2025 season. She broke the 10.70-second barrier on three separate occasions, including a 10.66 at the Silesia Diamond League, her 10.65 at the USATF Championships, and a stunning 10.61 to win the World Championship in Tokyo, making her the fourth-fastest woman in history over the distance.