No Sha’Carri? No Problem. Melissa Took Over.

^{August 2, 2025 | Edition #163}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

The USATF Outdoor Championships are turning out to be wilder than we imagined! World Leads, unexpected exits, and more. But our favorite picks were the 100m and 400m races! Both the 100m U.S. Champions battled a line of contenders, before they sat on the throne. Meanwhile, the 400m runners gave us a reason to look forward to the weekend, after their incredible semifinals show! Hop on as we take you through day 2 highlights...

🌟 Track Stories

A Stacked 100m Showdown!

For two hours, that’s how long the men’s 100m event at the USA Outdoors Day 2 kept us on the edge of our seats. Well, the men’s Semifinals kicked off around 5 p.m. and honestly, it gave us déjà vu....

Once again, T'Mars McCallum won heat 1 of the Semifinal in 9.99s, meanwhile Kenny Bednarek dominated Semifinal heat 2 with 9.90s, whereas Courtney Lindsey blazed across Semifinal heat 3 in 10.06s. Exactly the same winners as Thursday’s round 1. But we also got a big surprise! Christian Coleman finally showed up in form, clocking 9.94s, the second-fastest time in the Semifinals. Thus, heading to the ultimate test around 7 p.m!

In the finals, ten men, ranging from seasoned pro Trayvon Bromell to high school graduate Maurice Gleaton, were lined up. But across the finish line, it was “Kung Fu” Kenny who stood alone with his first national title in just 9.79s. His new personal best! Also, 4 athletes ran lifetime bests, including Courtney Lindsey’s 9.82s (silver) and T’Mars McCallum’s 9.83 (bronze). Moreover, Bromell, who was a 100m favorite heading into the event, ran a season best, but missed the podium by a hundredth second! He pulled an ambitious comeback this season after recurrent injuries, but alas, all in vain! Watch the jaw-dropping 100m final here! And now we may start the celebrations!

After all, four American sprinters are now off to the 2025 World Championships. Bednarek, Lindsey, McCallum, and of course, Noah Lyles, with his bye. It’s also likely that these athletes will feature in the 4x100m. Well, Christian Coleman could also be in the mix, considering he’s been part of many past USA relay squads. And many others have qualifying times too, but it all depends on USATF. But either way, we’ve got every reason to count on this team!

With today’s win, Kenny is the second fastest man in the world, only behind Kishane Thompson. And his speed never gave us a hint about his cramps! Plus, Noah is already the defending champion, and both McCallum and Lindsey are youngsters who need no introductions. So yes, Team USA is looking rock solid!

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📈 Trending News

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Stole The Show!

Between the men’s semis and finals, US Nationals ensured that there was no dip in the excitement! Yes, it was time for the women’s 100m semifinals. Though it started with a disappointment as Sha’Carri pulled out due to a personal crisis, and Gabby Thomas, for an unknown reason, at the very end. But one athlete made sure fans got what they came for!

The fan favorite, world leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, lived up to the expectation by winning her semifinal heat in just 10.84 seconds despite a -0.3m/s headwind. Right behind her was Aleia Hobbs, while Semifinal Heat 1 win was bagged by Jacious Sears in 10.95s. The third Semifinal went to Kayla White, with Twanisha Terry chasing behind. But when it was time for the mega clash, no one matched up!

As soon as the women's 100m final started, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden looked unstoppable!. Exploding out of lane 6, she powered through and crossed the line in 10.65s, a new world lead. 0.08s faster than her own previous mark. Also, she is now tied as the fifth-fastest American woman of all time, alongside Sha’Carri and Marion Jones. Impressive. Watch Melissa shatter her own record below!

Behind her was Kayla White, who ran a personal best of 10.84s, while Aleia Hobbs followed in 10.92s. These three have now officially stamped their tickets to the World Championships in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Twanisha Terry, who finished fifth in Paris last year, missed out by just two hundredths of a second. Even Jacious Sears, who looked strong in the earlier rounds, faded to a sixth-place finish with 11.00s. However, Team USA looks all ready for World Champs!

Since Jefferson-Wooden and White are both currently ranked among the top four fastest women in the world this year. And Jefferson-Wooden, in particular, is a top contender for the world title. Well, she hasn’t lost a single 100m race since August 2024 and has clocked four sub-10.80s performances this season. So expect more fireworks at the Worlds!

Watch: How Melissa Looked Dominant Right From the Semi Final Heat!

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🙃 Sha’Carri’s latest decision raises concerns! - Full Story 

🤔 US track star makes unexpected confession! - Full Story

🤯 Here’s what Fans have to say to Quincy Wilson! - Full Story

🤨 This is what Melissa Jefferson said post her win! - Full Story

🙌 Michael Johnson revisits Tara Davis-Woodhall controversy - Full Story

See what else is trending in the world of track & field - Click Here

 🏃‍♀️ Can’t Miss

The 400m Final Is Going To be Fiery!

This was the moment every Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone fan had been waiting for! After all, day 2 of the USA Outdoors featured the women’s 400m showdown, where Sydney entered, ditching her signature 400m hurdles. This had caught a lot of people off guard. But after Round 1, tables have turned!

On Friday, amid the Semifinal 1 win by 33-year-old Quanera Hayes (50.76s) and the Semifinal 2 domination by Isabella Whittaker, (50.07s), the actual show-stopping moment was Sydney’s Semifinal 3! Running from lane 5, Sydney looked absolutely in control, clocking 49.59s to become the only sub-50 runner and the fastest qualifier. Watch how Sydney made her win look effortless! Interestingly, this was on the same Hayward Field track and the event where she ran her personal best of 48.74s two years back. But now, the big question is: who will take the final?

Well, looks like Sydney has the edge. Her 49.59 win looked easy. Commentators even noted she wasn't running aggressively. Plus, this is mostly Sydney’s only shot to make the World Championship team in an individual event, and she also has Sanya Richards-Ross’s American record on her mind. While an 85% majority of you think she will break this mark in her finals, as you answered in our Flash LITE edition poll, here are some interesting facts!

Sydney still trails both Butler and Whittaker on the 2025 world lead list. And both Butler and Whittaker are in peak form, one being the reigning NCAA outdoor champ, and the latter is the Indoor champ. Also, let’s not forget about Britton Wilson. She had the third-fastest qualifying time in the semifinals and a season best of 50.25s. More importantly, she was the runner-up behind Sydney at the 2023 championships. So she can be a challenger again!

Watch: How Sydney Nearly Broke the American Record!

😔 Unexpected

Will The Men’s 400m Have A Surprise Winner?

The most shocking event of USA Nationals: Men’s 400m semifinals. And the first shock?

There will be no Quincy Wilson in the finals. After all, in the Semifinal Heat 2, Wilson clocked 45.39s to finish fourth. Disappointment!Watch how Wilson faded here. But still we have a long list of strong contenders…

One being Bryce Deadmon, the fastest qualifier across all three heats, who clocked a blistering 44.34s in semi. Right behind him came Demarious Smith, who registered 44.45s, personal best.... There is also, Jacory Patterson, the UPS runner who had a great year. He is into the final and already has solid wins under his belt, like at the Rabat Diamond League and GST Miami. Don’t remember? Watch his insane 400m win here! Patterson also sits third on the 2025 world lead list, so he is definitely one to watch. But here's the catch!

Many top athletes were sitting at the bottom of the qualifying table. Despite winning his own heat, Olympic 4x400m relay silver medalist and 400m veteran Vernon Norwood only qualified 6th overall with a time of 44.78s. Right behind him was Chris Bailey, the reigning world indoor 400m champion, who somehow just came through in 7th with 44.81s. With all these twists, it’s clear that this final is wide open! Anyone can take it!

Watch: How Chris Bailey Became the 400m Indoor Champion!

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Last Poll Result: We asked you, “Given Our In-Depth Preview of the USATF National Championships, Which One Athlete Will You Be Cheering For?” Well, we got a wide range of answers! One of you chose Gabby Thomas and commented, “Go Harvard!” Another one supported “Josette Andrews and Joe Kovacs” One of you even encouraged Sydney, “Get the 1st goal in the 400m- American record!” Well, let’s see which athlete shines the most this weekend!

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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