Sprinter Melissa Jefferson made history March 12 when she raced across the 60-meter dash finish line at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and became the first person in CCU history to be an individual event National Champion.  

Jefferson’s first place time was 7.09 seconds. Her time tied for the sixth-best time in NCAA Division 1 Women’s Indoor Track and Field history. 

Throughout the indoor season, Jefferson and her teammates, Jermaisha Arnold and Alexis Glasco, were all ranked nationally, but they did not let their successes distract from the goal of going to nationals. 

“The mindset I have right now is part of the reason of why I have overcome and progressed so much,” Jefferson said in a video posted on the Chanticleer Sports Network. 

Jefferson said on the video that she did not get to this point alone.  

“Everyone out here on this track, my teammates, the coaches, the trainers, and the school all played a part in me getting to where I am today,” Jefferson said. 

Jefferson will take a break from the team’s next meet and plans to return to competition in April.