Jefferson-Wooden Defeats Thomas in 200m at Grand Slam Track

PHILADELPHIA — Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden achieved a significant victory on Saturday at the Grand Slam Track meet, edging Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas in the 200m race. Jefferson-Wooden clocked a personal-best time of 21.99 seconds at Philadelphia’s historic Franklin Field, marking the fastest 200m time ever recorded at the venue.

Jefferson-Wooden’s impressive display started from the beginning, as she gained an early lead over Thomas, who finished the race in 22.10 seconds. “Even though I’m primarily a 100m runner, the workouts we do prepare me for the 200m,” said Jefferson-Wooden, who trains in Central Florida with Olympic 100m silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson.

Jefferson-Wooden’s recent victory is a confidence boost as she prepares for the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, set for July 31 to August 3. This will be her first opportunity to qualify for the World Championships in the 200m by finishing in the top three.

In related results, Ackera Nugent won the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.44 seconds, marking a strong comeback after placing fifth in her specialty, the 400m hurdles. “It felt really good, it felt fun. It felt fast,” she noted after competing.

Canada’s Marco Arop won the men’s 800m, finishing in 1:43.38, while American Josh Hoey tested himself against top competitors for the first time in an outdoor race. Hoey finished with a time of 1:44.41 but expressed his excitement about testing his skills against Olympic champions.

The Grand Slam Track series continues through Sunday, featuring more races and opportunities for athletes to set new personal records. Jefferson-Wooden and Thomas are expected to compete again in the 100m event.