The dust has finally settled on the Tokyo National Stadium track, and if you haven't been keeping up with the 2025 World Athletics Championships, you've missed a massive changing of the guard. For years, we’ve been waiting to see who would officially take the mantle from legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce or dominate the era of Sha'Carri Richardson.
Well, it happened.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is officially the fastest woman in the world in 2025.
She didn't just win; she absolutely decimated a field of giants on September 14, 2025. Running a mind-bending 10.61 seconds in the 100m final, she didn't only secure the gold—she carved her name into the history books by breaking the Championship Record. Honestly, seeing her fly out of the blocks in Tokyo felt like watching someone move in a different dimension.
The Race That Changed Everything
Going into the Tokyo 2025 finals, most people were betting on a rematch between the Paris Olympic champion, Julien Alfred, and the defending world champion, Sha'Carri Richardson. But track and field is rarely that predictable.
Jefferson-Wooden entered the season as a "hunter." That’s how she described herself, anyway. She had already teased her form earlier in the summer at the US Championships in Eugene, clocking a 10.65 that signaled she was ready for something historic.
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When the gun went off in Tokyo, it was basically over in a blink. While Julien Alfred—who eventually took bronze—struggled with a mid-race hamstring tweak, Melissa stayed perfectly fluid. She crossed the line with a 0.15-second margin. In sprinting, that’s not just a win; it’s a gap you could park a car in.
2025 World Athletics Championships 100m Final Results
To give you a sense of just how fast this race was, look at the times the rest of the field put up. Even the "slow" times here would win almost any other race in the world.
- Gold: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.61 (CR)
- Silver: Tina Clayton (JAM) – 10.76
- Bronze: Julien Alfred (LCA) – 10.84
- 4th: Shericka Jackson (JAM) – 10.88
- 5th: Sha'Carri Richardson (USA) – 10.94
Where Does 10.61 Rank All-Time?
You've probably heard of Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 10.49 world record from 1988. That record still feels like it’s from another planet. But Melissa’s 10.61 puts her in a very exclusive club.
She is now the fourth-fastest woman in history.
Only Flo-Jo, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have ever run faster. She actually moved past Carmelita Jeter on the all-time list with this performance. It’s wild to think that a 24-year-old who was largely seen as a "relay specialist" or a bronze-medal contender just a year ago is now sitting on the Mount Rushmore of sprinting.
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What Happened to Sha'Carri and the Others?
If you're wondering why Sha'Carri Richardson finished fifth, you're not alone. It was a weird year for her. She dealt with some injury setbacks early in the season and only just squeaked into the final as a "fastest loser" after a stumble in the semi-finals.
Even in the final, she looked a bit off-kilter at the start. She still clocked a 10.94—which is fast by any human standard—but in a race where 10.6s and 10.7s are being thrown around, there’s no room for error.
And then there’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
The "Pocket Rocket" finished sixth in 11.03. It was an emotional moment for the crowd because, at 38, this was her final major championship. She didn't get the podium finish she wanted, but the roar from the Tokyo crowd when she was introduced was louder than the cheers for the winner. It felt like the end of an era and the start of the Jefferson-Wooden age all at once.
The Rise of Tina Clayton
We also need to talk about Tina Clayton. At just 21 years old, the Jamaican phenom grabbed the silver medal with a personal best of 10.76.
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She is now the youngest woman to ever medal in this event at the World Championships. If Melissa is the queen right now, Tina is definitely the heir apparent. The rivalry between the US and Jamaica isn't dying; it's just getting younger.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden didn't just win a race; she changed the expectations for what it takes to be the "Fastest Woman in the World."
We used to think a 10.7 high was enough to win a world title. Not anymore. If you aren't dipping into the 10.6s, you’re basically fighting for the scraps. Melissa has set a new bar for execution. Her coach, Dennis Mitchell, has clearly refined her start to the point where she’s almost untouchable in the first 30 meters.
If you want to follow the progress of these athletes as we head into the 2026 season, keep an eye on the Diamond League circuit. Most of these women will be looking for redemption or trying to defend their rankings in cities like Zurich, London, and Eugene.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Replay: If you haven't seen the Tokyo 2025 100m final, go find the footage on the World Athletics YouTube channel. Pay attention to Melissa's transition at the 40-meter mark.
- Track the 200m: Melissa also dominated the 200m in Tokyo with a 21.68, making her a double threat. Watch for her to challenge the 21.34 personal best of Shericka Jackson in the coming months.
- Check the Rankings: Use the World Athletics "Top Lists" tool to filter by the 2025 season to see how wind-legal times compared across different continents.