American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran a world-leading personal best 200-metre sprint, clocking a winning time of 21.47 at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
While she won with a good gap, second-place still had a fast time in fellow American Gabby Thomas, finishing in 21.77.
Taking third was Kayla White in 21.93 to complete the sweep.
Only two athletes have run faster. World record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner with the world record and Jamaican Shericka Jackson twice.
Joyner set the world record in 1988 at the Seoul Olympic Games, running 21.34. Jackson has clocked 21.41 and 21.45 at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships and 2022 Eugene World Athletics Championships, respectively.
Jefferson-Wooden ran her 21.47 into a 0.6 m/s headwind. Considering the headwind, the value of the run is much closer to the world record than what the finish time indicates.
“So, honestly, I knew I wanted to PB. I was thinking 21.6 low, 21.5. I skipped all over 21.5 and went to 21.4. I mean, I’ll take it. But yeah. That’s why my face looked like that. I did not know that 21.4 was in the scope of things tonight.”
Results
| Pos | Athlete | NAt. | Mark | Rt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa JEFFERSON-WOODEN | USA | 21.47 WL | 0.169 |
| 2 | Gabrielle THOMAS | USA | 21.77 | 0.173 |
| 3 | Kayla WHITE | USA | 21.93 | 0.136 |
| 4 | Amy HUNT | GBR | 22.10 SB | 0.159 |
| 5 | Ashanti MOORE | JAM | 22.34 | 0.132 |
| 6 | Cambrea STRUGIS | USA | 22.46 | 0.147 |
| 7 | Anavia BATTLE | USA | 22.54 | 0.159 |
| 8 | Fabienne HOENKE | SUI | 22.74 | 0.136 |
Top-10 performances in history
| Pl. | Time | Wind | Athlete | Nat. | DOB | Pos. | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.34 | +1.3 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | USA | 21.12.59 | 1 | Seoul | 29.09.1988 |
| 2 | 21.41 | +0.1 | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 16.07.94 | 1 | Budapest | 25.08.2023 |
| 3 | 21.45 | +0.6 | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 16.07.94 | 1 | Eugene | 21.07.2022 |
| 4 | 21.47 | -0.6 | Melissa Jefferson-Wooden | USA | 21.02.01 | 1 | Budapest | 13.09.2026 |
| 5 | 21.48 | +0.2 | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 16.07.94 | 1 | Bruxelles | 08.09.2023 |
| 6 | 21.51 | +0.9 | Julien Alfred | LCA | 10.06.01 | 1 | Monaco | 10.07.2026 |
| 7 | 21.53 | +0.8 | Elaine Thompson-Herah | JAM | 28.06.92 | 1 | Tokyo | 03.08.2021 |
| 8 | 21.55 | ±0.0 | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 16.07.94 | 1 | Kingston | 26.06.2022 |
| 9 | 21.56 | +1.7 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | USA | 21.12.59 | 1s1 | Seoul | 29.09.1988 |
| 10 | 21.57 | +0.3 | Shericka Jackson | JAM | 16.07.94 | 1 | Eugene | 17.09.2023 |
