Jefferson Races to the USA Track & Field 100-Meters Championship
6/24/2022 11:40:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
Jefferson is the U.S. Champion in the 100-meters and will represent Team USA at the 2022 World Championships
EUGENE, Ore. – She did it again! Coastal Carolina women's outdoor track & field's Melissa Jefferson made history once again on Friday night, as the junior was crowned the U.S. Champion in the women's 100-meters at the 2022 Toyota USA Track Outdoor Championships, crossing the finish line first with an amazing time of 10.69 (+2.9) in the finals to earn the gold medal.
With one of the fastest times ever by a collegian in the women's 100-meters, wind-aided or not, Jefferson earned a spot on the USA National Team and will represent the United States at the 2022 World Athletics Championships from July 15-24.
ANOTHER ONE! 🥇
— CCU Track and XC (@CoastalTFXC) June 25, 2022
🇺🇸 CHAMPION
🔥 10.69 (+2.9) 🔥@Melissajanae21 is the UNITED STATES 100-Meter Champion!
On to the @WorldAthletics Championships!@usatf | #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/nh3Grq3119
Jefferson posted a new CCU school-record time of 10.82 (0.5) in the semifinals of the 100-meters to place second overall.
That was just the precursor to the show she put on in the 100-meter finals, as the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field 60-meters National Champion posted a career-best time of 10.69 (+2.9) to win the event and in the process defeated six professionals and recent college graduate Celera Barnes of USC.
Her mark of 10.69 (+2.9) set an All-Dates, All-Time Collegiate record for the women's 100-meters (per USTFCCCA).
Just missing the finals in their respective events were rising juniors Shani'a Bellamy and Jermaisha Arnold.
Bellamy turned in a time of 58.47 to finish in 14th place overall and just five spots out of qualifying for the finals in the women's 400-meter hurdles, while Arnold posted a time of 51.78 to finish 12th overall in the women's 400-meter semifinals.
In her first competition of the week at the 2022 USA TF U20 Outdoor Championships, Mekenze Kelley placed first overall in the women's 400-meters with her time of 52.57 to move on to the finals on Saturday at 7:17 p.m. ET. Her time was the fourth-fastest mark of the year in the event for the rising sophomore.
Live results for the 2022 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships can be found here: https://results.usatf.org/2022U20Outdoors/.
For complete coverage of CCU Cross Country and Track & Field, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalTFXC (Twitter), @GoCCUsports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.
Day ✌️ of crowning champions!
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 25, 2022
Melissa Jefferson is the 100m 👑.#USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/ebfe63k9iK
Melissa Jefferson claims the national championship title in the women's 100m!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) June 25, 2022
Jefferson🥇, Aleia Hobbs🥈 and Twanisha Terry🥉 have booked their spots in next month's world championships.@usatf | #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/9hlrTLWcF1
MELISSA. JEFFERSON.
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) June 25, 2022
🇺🇸 CHAMPION
🔥 10.69 (+2.9) 🔥
Jefferson is headed to the @WorldAthletics Championships!
It also set an ALL-TIME, ALL-DATES COLLEGIATE RECORD!
📷 @WCHoregon22 pic.twitter.com/T1J7aR5Afg
Melissa Jefferson at the line!
— World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (@WCHoregon22) June 25, 2022
From finishing 8th at #ncaatf to winning #USATFOutdoors, she'll lead Team USA in the 100m alongside @AleiaBitOfThis and @TeeTeeTerry_ at #WCHOregon22. pic.twitter.com/zBQPhPVApq
10.69 🤯
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 25, 2022
Melissa Jefferson is your women's 100m champ! #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/4gjmMkOdOz
MELISSA JEFFERSON 🤯🤯🤯
— USATF (@usatf) June 25, 2022
10.69* wins the @Nike women's 100m at #USATFOutdoors 🥇
She didn't even hit her top speed until 85.2m into the race!!! 💥💥💥
