Running News Daily

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden delivered a sensational performance in Budapest, storming to victory in the women’s 100m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in a breathtaking 10.62 seconds.

The American produced a superb display of acceleration and composure to claim the World Ultimate Championship title while recording the fastest women’s 100m time in the world this year. Her 10.62 mark underlined her exceptional form and placed her firmly at the top of the global sprinting hierarchy.

Jefferson-Wooden controlled the race through the decisive stages and maintained her form all the way to the finish to secure a statement victory against a field packed with championship pedigree. She crossed the line ahead of Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who clocked 10.74 seconds with a -0.2 m/s wind, while Sha’Carri Richardson took third in 10.76.

Women’s 100m Final

1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden — 10.62

2. Julien Alfred — 10.74 (-0.2 m/s)

3. Sha’Carri Richardson — 10.76

The victory was especially significant given the quality of the opposition. Jefferson-Wooden held her nerve against Alfred and Richardson, two of the most accomplished sprinters of the current generation, to produce the fastest performance in the world this year when it mattered most.

Alfred once again demonstrated her consistency at the highest level by taking silver, while Richardson completed an all-star podium in a race that brought together three of the biggest names in women’s sprinting.

But beyond the time, the title and the celebration, one of the most touching moments came after the race when Jefferson-Wooden embraced her father, Melvin, in an emotional celebration.

Their moment carried a deeply personal meaning. When Melissa was just 17 years old, she donated her stem cells to help her father undergo a bone marrow transplant after he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Years later, the two shared an unforgettable embrace in Budapest after she had become the World Ultimate Champion.

For Jefferson-Wooden, however, the evening was about far more than a medal. It was the culmination of an extraordinary journey, now highlighted by a world-leading 10.62 seconds on one of the biggest stages in athletics.

With the Ultimate Championship title secured and her father by her side, Jefferson-Wooden leaves Budapest with more than being an ultimate champion. She leaves with momentum, confidence and a powerful statement of intent — turning a high-profile showdown into one of the defining sprint performances of her season.

Suiting up in any costume and attempting a marathon can’t be comfortable, especially when you’re wearing an additional 20 lbs of football equipment. Brian Goldsmith, a 37-year-old fitness instructor and ticketing representative for the Arlington Renegades of the XFL, ran 3:29:30 at Sunday’s BMW Dallas Marathon in full football equipment to set the Guinness World Record.

According to Dallas Morning News, Goldsmith initially aimed for a Boston Marathon qualifying time when he signed up for the BMW Dallas Marathon. However, a colleague’s suggestion to run the race in an Arlington Renegades shirt sparked an idea—why not fully suit up in gear and go for the Guinness World Record?

Goldsmith mentioned on his Instagram page that he trained his body to get comfortable in football gear by wearing it around the office all day. While this might cause a ruckus in 99.9 per cent of offices, Goldsmith is fortunate to work for a football team. He is also reportedly the first person ever to set a world record while wearing an Arlington Renegades uniform, according to Dallas Morning News.

He beat the previous record of 3:33:42 set in 2019 by Australia’s Alistair Kealty by four minutes. This wasn’t his first attempt at a Guinness World Record. Goldsmith previously tried to run the fastest half-marathon dressed as a piece of fruit, sporting a banana costume, but he fell short of California’s Melvin Nyairo, who clocked 1:15:35 at the 2019 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

The Arlington Renegades are one of eight teams in the XFL, a minor professional football league for development players in the U.S. The Renegades are owned by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and are the most recent champions in the XFL.

Martinot-Lagarde will lead French team for Belgrade.

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde already has two world indoor silver medals and one bronze to his name and he will look to add to that tally when he returns to Belgrade, scene of his European indoor silver medal win in 2017. He will be joined in the men’s 60m hurdles by 2021 European indoor champion Wilhem Belocian and Cyrena Samba-Mayela contests the women’s event

While former world record-holder Renaud will not be competing, there will be a Lavillenie in the pole vault competition, with European indoor silver medallist Valentin Lavillenie selected along with Thibaut Collet. Triple jump places have been secured by Jean-Marc Pontvianne and Melvin Raffin.

Aurore Fleury lines up in the 1500m while Leonie Cambours contests the pentathlon.

French team for Belgrade

Women1500m: Aurore Fleury60m hurdles: Cyrena Samba-MayelaPentathlon: Leonie Cambours 

Men60m hurdles: Wilhem Belocian, Pascal Martinot-LagardePole vault: Thibaut Collet, Valentin LavillenieTriple jump: Jean-Marc Pontvianne, Melvin Raffin

Over 1,800 runners are expected to participate in the 5th annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon at Lake Tahoe.

Runners will enjoy the south and east shore scenery as they go past Glenbrook, Logan Shoals, Cave Rock, Round Hill Pines, Nevada Beach and Rabe Meadow and wind down over 1,000 feet from Spooner Summit to the finish line at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe.

About 100 runners are returning to run the event, sponsored by Epic Tahoe Adventures, for a fifth time.

“We are truly humbled by the number of runners who return to Rock Tahoe year after year,” says Jessica Schnoll, from Epic Tahoe Adventures, in a press release. “This year alone, 40% of the total registered participants have completed Rock Tahoe before and are returning for a second, third, fourth, or even fifth time.”

“Rock Tahoe introduced me to half marathons five years ago and I’ve come back every year,” said Katie Joll, South Lake Tahoe local and five-year legacy runner, in the release. “The serenity of an early morning run by the lake can’t be beat and there’s an amazing vibe to this whole event. I’m looking forward to crossing the finish again to celebrate Rock Tahoe number five this year.”

The race weekend starts with a “Rock the Plaza” Packet Pick-up and Pre-Race Expo from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 14, on the Guitar Plaza in front of Alpine Union. 

Winning times for males and females in 2018 were 1:20:42 by Melvin Nyairo and 1:36:37 by Stephanie Carlsake, respectively. Both will be defending their titles.