Melissa Jefferson-Wooden — the defending Pre Classic Champion — will return to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon for the 2026 Prefontaine Classic. Jefferson-Wooden (Georgetown, South Carolina) will headline the Women’s 100m race on Saturday, July 4th, as part of the two-day event serving as the ninth stop on the 2026 Wanda Diamond League schedule.
Last year’s win in the Women’s 100m race at the Pre Classic sparked a career-best season for the former Coastal Carolina Chanticleer. A month after running a 10.75 to win the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, Melissa returned to Hayward Field for the 2025 USA Track & Field Championships to run an even faster 10.65. That time earned Jefferson-Wooden the American title and a spot on Team USA for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
In Japan, Jefferson-Wooden would achieve the rare sprinting Triple Crown with World Championships in the Women’s 100m, Women’s 200m and Women’s 4x100m relay. Those titles would make Melissa a five-time world champion on top of 4x100m relay titles from Oregon (2022) and Budapest (2023). At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, she won a bronze medal in the Women’s 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay.
Jefferson-Wooden is currently ranked No. 1 in the Women’s 100m. During the 2025 season, she dipped under 10.70 three times, including a 10.66 at the Silesia Diamond League, a 10.65 at the USA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field, and a World Championship-clenching 10.61 at Tokyo, which made her the fourth-fastest woman in history over 100m.
Tickets, VIP Experience packages, and Accommodations packages will go on sale on Wednesday, February 25th at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Through February 7th, fans can sign up for priority ticket access here.
Those interested in volunteering at The Prefontaine Classic can register at gotracktownusa.com/volunteer.