Club Shay Shay - Best of Track World Athletics Championships Part 2: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden JOINS + Unc throwing SHOTS at Jamaica

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

0:00 - Unc's message for Jamaica6:27 -  Melissa Jefferson-Wooden joins the show24:05 - USA Women's relay race order unveiled 31:55 - Track & Field being a lonely sport 40:44 - Melissa shows off her medal   (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, come on, why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient. Still using yesterday's tech, upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ultra-light, ultra-powerful, and built for serious productivity, with Intel core ultra-processors, blazing speed, and AI-powered performance. It keeps up with your business, not the other way around. Whoa, this thing moves. Stop hitting snooze on new tech.

Win the tech search at Lenovo.com. Lenovo, Lenovo. Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, powered by Intel Core Alter processors so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel?

That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going. going to get. Listen to NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you

inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you will won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Dan. He's Ty. Hello. And we're the solid verbal college football podcast. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. Join us all season long as we ride the roller car. coaster of this ridiculous

sport. Listen to the Solid Verbal College Football Podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We don't just love college football tie. We live it. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fulrio, and together

we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Hey, don't think I didn't see what y'all said, Jamaica, but we're about to get that gold medal. We're about to get gold and silver into 200.

Let him know. Talk to him. Y'all be talking. Y'all make a scene like the Olympics just inserted 100 meters in 2008 when you say birthed on the team on the scene. Now, I'm not going to take anything from it. He's the greatest sprinter to ever live. Facts.

I'm not going to take anything from him. But when it comes to sprinting, and it's incredible, what the Jamaicans have been able to do when you look at Ocho, a country that size? You're talking about, you know, 4 million people. people. Yeah, if that. And to have the great, I mean, and some of the women, I mean, you look at Shelly and Frasier, I mean, they've always, a Merleine Addy. She never won goal, but she was always silver bronze, an Olympics and the world championships. So they've had,

they've had good, good sprinters. B.C.B, Veronica Camber Brown, Sharon Stewart. They've, they've had great women sprinters. So don't get me wrong. I don't want to say anything. but y'all know y'all know what time we're right y'all know what time it is okay so if you go back and look at the world championship so I'll say last 15, 20 years I mean we're right there

I know y'all think the Jamaicans you know been running fans but go back and look at it go back and look it up I know y'all only go back to 2008 because you're saying and I get all that but you know the Olympics the modern Olympics is 130 years old they first of the Olympics, the modern Olympics, in 1896.

I'm just, you know, I just say it. If you look at it, if you look at it, gold medal in the Olympics, gold medal in the world championships, I, I, I feel very comfortable. you y'all have the greatest male and female woman sprint of all times yes you saying it's the greatest is the greatest male he's the greatest sprinter woman sprinter is shell and bracer price absolutely i'm not arguing that i'm not i'm not i'm not arguing that shelley ann is it's unbelievable i mean five world championships two olympic goals a uh a 200 meter championship two four by one championships what star is she's the greatest you say I don't even have to say anything

I don't need to say hey you just say you say you say both the greatest sprinter ever Shelly Ann is the greatest woman sprinter ever but you know we're going to see what we're going to see we're going to try to make it we're going to make a two for two sweep steak yeah

hey MJ got this yeah and y'all already know no got some fun y'all. Obliq, go see no in the 200. Chrisane, go see him in the 200. Y'all want some, y'all won't smoke?

Yeah. All my fellow Jamaicans, you know, I love you. Yeah, I love you. I love you. Every last one of you. I get them Jamaican noxels at least once a month. Huh? Yeah.

What go on? Yeah. But y'all be, they'll be talking records. is bad. Look, I tell my, hey, there you're not upset. It is an upset. First of all, it is an upset because Noah was the reigning Olympic and world champ. What do you mean it wasn't an upset? It is. If you beat the champ, it's an upset. I'm not saying the oblique hadn't been running well. No, I hadn't been run. Noah hadn't had a whole lot. He was dealing with some injuries. That's what he said. He didn't

run a whole lot. He didn't run a whole lot. Didn't run a whole lot. a whole lot of 100 meters, didn't run, and he's taught himself, he's a 200 meter specialist, like you saying, that taught himself how to be a good 100 meter runner, Ocho. But I gave Seville and Thompson their credit. They wanted to go and say they did, they beat him. I'm worried. I'm worried. I'm worried about this 200.

Why, look. I'm waiting on this 200. He seems to be fit. So it should, look, we know about, we know about, we know about We know about Benari, we know about Tobogo. I don't know if anybody else can really challenge those three. Noah seems to be as he's run and he had to run rounds. He's kind of run himself, conditioning where it needs to be because there's nothing like racing.

You can get it in practice all you want to, but you got to race. Right. You got to get your body conditioned to run those four rounds. And, uh, I like no chances. We'll see.

I love him. Now, I don't like him. I love it. Yes. And if he, if he doesn't win, it's going to be an upset. It is.

I don't know to bowl gold, but I mean, you talk about a guy that's won, what, three world championships. And everybody does send his race, he has the fastest time. He's run 1931.

He has the fastest time this year at 1963. Big Narek is close behind him in 1967, and then Tobogo is at, what, 1776? We know Toboga has run, I think he ran 1941, 1943 at the Olympics. So we know, too bogo can run. We know he has 200 meter capabilities.

He got DQed out of the 100 meters, but it's going to be interesting to see. God don't know it. Who wants to ban something on it? Put something on it. Uh-oh. What's your? What y'all got, Jamakus?

What y'all want to put on this? What y'all want to put on? Make it a lot of yourself. I'm taking Noah. We're getting gold and silver. We're going to pay y'all ass back. Y'all took gold and silver in the hundred. We're going to take gold.

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We think NFL coverage should be informative, And entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel?

That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? It looks like something that should not be sold. Oh, my. So that was my other big Colts takeaway. They sold that? Yes. Might want to go back to the...

At the Colts Stadium. Yeah, I might want to go back to the drawing board on that. Yeah. I thought the shape we had with pretzels was working pretty well. Smart for generations. We're just here trying to enjoy it. We hope you all will join us. throughout the year and let's go i hope i'm as youthful as pete carroll is at his age he's a young

73 he is a young 73 he is spry i wouldn't fight him i would listen NFL cover zero with matt jones and drew franklin on the i heart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast what's up everybody daniel jeremiah here and i'm bucky brooks on move the sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies coaching trends in how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else it's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze matchups and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day plus we dig in the coaching

strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant.

And I'm Michael Flauio. Together, we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Dan. He's Ty. Hello. And we're the Solid Verbal College Football Podcast. College football season is here, and you know what that means. Your team is going to break your heart three times, probably before Halloween.

Uh-huh. But fear not. The Solid Verbal will be right there with you through every soul-crushing loss and impossible comeback. Join us all season long, all year long, as we will. ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport. Whether you're a die-heart fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and, of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else,

and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. We don't just love college football, tie. We live it. Listen to the Solid Verbal College Football Podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people

and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino to the show, and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro-out?

athlete. The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar A. Z. Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to good game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

Bowling 7 to 200. That's what we're about to do, Ocho. That we're about to do. Ah, here she is. Here she is. Hey, joining us. The world's fastest woman. Here she is. All the way from Tokyo. She got the bronze medal in Paris. She said she wasn't satisfied. She says, I want to reach my maximum potential. And she did. At the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, just a few days ago, she ran 1061, which is the fourth fastest time ever run by a woman.

We got Flojo, who ran 1049 at the USA's in Indy. And in 2021, I don't know what was in the water. Because you got Elaine Thompson-Harrer run 1054 in Eugene. and then you had Shelly and Fraser Price to Pocket Rocket run 1060 in Lazanne. And here she is. We had a conversation, MJ. I say, I think if you, with these ladies in,

with the right win, I say, I believe you can go 10, I believe you can go sub 106. You had a negative ad win. I believe if you get a plus, you get a plus one. You get a plus 1. You go in sub 106. Do you believe that? Congratulations.

Tell us how you, before we get in the day, How are you feeling? I'm feeling good. Thank you, y'all. I told you I was coming back. You told me, hey, I said, when you win that gold medal, I said, when you win the gold medal,

make sure you come back and tell us about it. Oh, yeah. And your Wi-Fi is perfect. Listen, Tokyo, Tokyo, it's so efficient over here. Everything is great. The Wi-Fi's good. I know it's good because I brought my game, man I can play Cardi.

So you go on into, so obviously, is your coach over there with you? So tell me your strategies. So obviously, it's survive and advanced. You're trying to be as efficient as you're possible. I'm not trying to expend any more than I have to to advance and get through the rounds. And so that's what I'm trying to do. And once I get to the finals, I'm going to drop the hammer.

Is that kind of your strategy, survive and advance, doing as little as possible? Yep. That's the name of the game when it comes to these championships and the rounds is to just conserve as much energy as possible. and then when you get to that last round it's just about who can put together the perfect race at the perfect time and I just kind of look at it as

I'm going to just lay it all out because, I mean, I've been working for this very moment so there's no need to be trying to hold anything back just let it rip. Do you believe if you get a positive tail win you could have gone

sub 106? Absolutely. I thought I was going to run 105 if I'm being honest. I knew it. Really? Hold on. Hold on.

10558 1055 or or lower than that if I'm being completely honest I thought that I had a chance to run anywhere between 1052 and 1055 with the right tail wing well that well now you're talking about the right tail when you're probably going to need a probably about a 1.5 and a 1.5 would probably got you what you wanted probably a 1055 maybe a little lower. But I felt that with the women in this race, you look at Julian Alfred to St. Lucian, you look at Tia Clayton. So you had the women, Toulou is always dangerous from the Ivory Coast. She's dangerous.

Dina Asher Smith, she's dangerous. Your training partner, she's carry. She's run 1065. There's not a whole lot of women that's run sub 107. She's won. So you had the women in the race. You had the track.

You just needed a little bit more favorable conditions. and I believe you go sub 106. Yep, for sure. And I say that too. And then even looking back at the race, like, obviously it was one of the best races of my life. It was the fastest I've ever ran. But I look at the race and I still see areas where I could have improved on.

Like, I probably could have been a tad bit more explosive coming out the blocks or, you know, just running through. Well, I ran through my transition very well. I feel like the weakest part of my race the other night was probably the start. Yes, I would agree. And that's just because I like to be able to create the separation. Like my coach drills into my head like, you know, when we get in certain races, obviously the game plan changes.

But for races like these and this moments, you're the biggest advantage that I can have for myself is to put it away in the first 30 meters. So I feel like going back at it, like if I could do it all over again, I would probably be that much more aggressive at the start. And then you take my start, make it a little bit more aggressive with how the rest of the race went for me, then I probably wouldn't have made it to win. I probably wouldn't have needed a tail win to run to money. Matter of fact, I don't know.

Boy, that finish. Hey, Tia Clay pulled up. She's like, where you, MJ said, where are you going? Let me get up out of hell. Where you going? You ain't been to get there. That's me. Hey, MJ, when it comes, when it comes, the race and always having a game plan when you're going

against women that are great at those that you would. win against the day or, well, what time? It's 130. It's 138 out there, huh? It's, yeah, it's like 2.30. It's like 2.30 in afternoon here on Wednesday. No, Tuesday. You always have a game plan going to a race like that.

What part of the race is your strength would you say? I would like to say my strength in my race is my start. Start, yes. but sometimes I have a tendency like I think I've been so focused on trying to make the other part of my races better it's almost kind of like I find I find comfort in knowing not being complacent or

pride for or anything like that but like my start is kind of like the part of the race where I don't necessarily have to worry about it just with my start it just it has more so to do with how aggressive I am attacking the front side angle and things like that but I really try my hardest to focus on the other parts of the race. So like

the transition, acceleration, to keep it up with my frequency. Like I've always had the frequency, but in the past I just wasn't strong enough to be able to meet or let it get the best of me, if that makes sense. So like my legs could be moving this fast, but then

if my arms ain't doing that, like if I can't keep up with the amount of turnover and frequency that I have, then that's when things start to go wrong in the race. So I feel like this year, just in that race alone, Like, I feel like, um, I feel like my acceleration and my transition was probably like the best I've ever had. Yeah.

When you look at a race and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, increase speed, stride speed. Stride frequency. How far are you out and how quickly do you pick them up and put them down? You look at Usain boat. He's the perfect sprinter. You talk about a guy that had a stride length, and he had the strive frequency, and he's taking him probably 40 steps to run 100 meters. So when you said, I'm a starter, but for some reason, was it in the back of your mind? Did you know, did you see that a Tobogo had false started? Is that in the back of your mind like, look, I am not going to blow this. I still believe I'm even with these women in this race, you got Toulou and you got Alfred and you got Clayton and you got Shariqa Jackson and you got Shakari.

They're in this race, but in the condition that I'm in right now, they can't beat me. The only way, the only person that can beat Melissa Jefferson Wooden is if I false start. If I don't fall start, they can't see me. They got, they can't get number tailpipes today. And it's true because I think it's crazy because I did the same thing at U.S. trials. Like, I feel like this year, my best start was probably when I ran at Prefontein and Eugene. So like maybe about a couple weeks out before U.S. trials, but even like going through the rounds, at U.S. trials, I was very, um, I was very, like, I played it safe with all of my starts

through the rounds. But it was just, I think, I think, like, I agree with you. I think that I know what I have in a tank and I don't want to put myself in a predicament to mess that up. So I'd rather play it safe than to, you know, have that one time where I think like, oh, no, this is the one and then it'd be, it's a little bit too, too much. So, yeah. Is it a situation, MJ, that maybe you get a Diamond League meet where you don't have to run the rounds? It's one time, it's one crack. You know, I go over there a couple of days earlier. I get acclimated.

I don't have to get off a plane and I'm running in three hours, something like that. Where I go over there and I get acclimated for a couple of days and I only got one race. Is it a situation like that where you feel you can put something together? Because we're asking you would do an awful lot. And I understand it's, you know, to put rounds together and then run fast. end because even though you're trying to be as efficient as possible, you're still moving at a pretty good rate. You're still burning gas, so to speak.

And so do you think a 10-5, it was possible, but what do you think about if you just get that one race, so you know what, this is it? Yeah, I think without a doubt it would have happened because then it would have just been like one and done, like this is it. You only get empty the tank. Yep, empty the tank. That's literally it. When you think about it, no American woman, and we've had some fast, only one American woman is ever one faster than you're 1061.

Carmeletta, good friend. Hey, she's run 1064. We got Shakira at 1065. We got Marion Jones at 1065. So you're in a very elite company. I believe in the next year, maybe two, you're going to join, you know, Elaine and Flojo. That 104, 105 is group. have you thought about it

when you when you wrote your goals down coming into this year was 10-5 on that paper so 10-5 this year writing down my goals 10-5 wasn't on the paper 106 definitely was though I had I wrote down 1068

and then when I ran 1065 at trials it was kind of just like oh well excuse you what you're talking about actually to my own self so but then it just like a testament to the work that I put in in me knowing that like, you know, I'm a very firm believer in my faith. And I know that the journey that I'm on, the journey that I'm walking,

like God, it's, I'm right where I'm supposed to be, where I'm supposed to be. And so I can't put a limit on what I think that I can accomplish. If I say that I believe in him wholeheartedly to the fullest extent and that he's literally guided myself, then there's no possible way that I could put, you know, a limit on what I do. So, And the same thing goes for the 200. Like, I ran 20, I had written down 21-9. That was my end goal for the 200 for me this year. And I ran 21-99 in rain and 68-degree weather.

So I'm like, okay, Melissa, like, what are you actually talking about? Like, what do you actually think you know? Right. So those are not favorable conditions. Cold and rain. The last thing, a sprinter wants to see. Now, a distance runner, he okay with the cool. He's like, let's have a day.

He wants it. They want it to be cool. But as a sprinter, the way you're bound tight, you want it nice and, you know, 75, I do 75. Yeah. Give me a little nice little tailwind. But you don't want windy. You don't want rain.

You slip it and all that other stuff. So now, and I'm looking at this race, and I'm looking at the women that's in this race yourself and Julian Afford has run 1070. You know, Sharika Jackson run 1065. Shelly Ann has run 1060. Toulou had to run 1070. I think 1070. She's run a monster time.

So you got everything that you could possibly hope for. You're like, you know what? You're looking around. You're like, yeah. You're like, yeah. This is a barbecue chicken. Ops tail. I mean, well, you're feeling good.

So how did you feel going into, how did you feel coming into the championship? Because you had run, you were the favorite. You had run all the times. And I was like, well, damn, you put, you had, you know what? what I knew, Melissa, when you put back-to-back 10-6s, I said, there ain't about a whole lot,

there ain't been a whole lot of women that can back up 10-6 with another 10-6. When you back that up, I said, if she don't fall, start, ain't nobody beating her. Is that when you knew you was ready to run fast? Really fast. I, I think I knew after I ran Philly's Grand Slam that this is going to be,

like that, I feel like that's when it started before them, but it was really like, okay, no, I feel like it was, I put the stamp on it, like, no, this is your year to become a world champion. It was after that meet. And then going into trial or going into Prefontein, you know, it was the rematch of the Olympic podium. Very much so, it almost looked pretty identical to the finals that we had last year in Paris.

So it was kind of like, all right, they beat you that time. Don't let them beat you again. and going into the race a couple days ago I remember we were in the call room and then they were about to walk us out for the final and I sat there and I just told myself and I was like Melissa tonight is your night but it's not going to be given to you

you're going to have to take it like don't just think that it's just going to come to you and then I looked around and all the women that I was getting ready to race against they had all beaten me before and I said well they won't get me twice and I was the last thing I don't know about before I got to the line

I was the last thing I said before I got to the line. And then after the gun went off, it was just like, well, here we go. I can honestly say, and I follow track and field and everybody knows I'm a big track and field fan. I don't know if I've ever seen anybody finish as strong as you did. I mean, because when Tia Clayton challenged you, it's almost like race horses.

Because a lot of times talking to Bob Bafford and some famous trainers at Cho, they say they'll tell their jockey, let the horse pull up next to him. That horse knows he's in a competition against this other horse. He just needs to somebody pulled up to his bumper. And he knows he's there.

Now he gets another gear. Melissa, when Tia Clayton pulled up, I was like, okay. Oh, I said, oh, ooh. And then you're like, where are you, do you at, where are you going? I ain't, I ain't even hit this turbo. I ain't dropped this nitrous on you yet.

Boo. Boo. I said, well, damn. Did you, did you know, did you, have you seen, have you rewired? the race. Did you see that you got another gear? Did you see that for your own self? I did. So crazy enough, I did see it. When I heard the gun go off, I remember me getting out and I was just like, okay, you got to clear the pack. You got to clear the pack. And then I got

to the middle of the race and then it kind of went blank for a second. And then the closer we got to the line, I was just like, don't do that thing you do where you like roll your shoulders, get all crazy. I just went through the line. And then after I ran through the line, it was kind of like, oh, I think I won, but I need to know, I need to see with my own eyes that I actually won. So I didn't really feel myself hit that other guilt. It was just about really like just trying to, trying to stay clear of everybody else. Are you nervous before races? I think about football games and right before kickoff, the music is playing. And before to kick the ball off, I got butterflies in my stomach. My stomach is tight. I'm nervous until I actually have

contact or I catch a touch a ball. Like, it's almost, I don't want to use the word scared. But nervous. Before race like that, before you go in the blocks, are your nerves okay? How do you calm yourself down? The biggest thing I do is just listen to music. And I kind of get a sense of that, too, like leading up.

So I was here about maybe a week before we started actually competing because we had relay camp and everything. So I think that was probably the longest week of my life because it was just like, okay, Melissa, you know you're ready to run. there's no need to be anxious like just let the days go by and then the time difference here was crazy so the first couple of days it was like no matter how late i tried to go to sleep i was still waking up at four or five a m and then it was like i finally got to the point to where i was waking up at six i'm like okay that's a little bit of progress but then it was just still like trying to get to the line so i think if anything like i don't be really really nervous i just be i just have like a lot of um i'd be anxious in a sense but i'm Also, like, you too, like, I'll, um, I, the minute I get to the warm up and I start warming up, I'm like, okay, let's do this. Like, I'm ready now.

Yeah. You're in your, you're in your element. Mm-hmm. Yes. Exactly. In my element. We're safe. I'm looking at this relay.

Now, I don't know who's going to be on the relay. I'm sure you and Shakari, because you guys made the finals. Mm-hmm. You're the fastest woman in the world. I don't know if we've seen a situation where the fastest woman in the world run lead off. because you're such an outstanding starter. And so,

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. We're just here to try to give you

an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Looks like something that should not be sold. Oh, my. So that was my. big cults take away they sold that yes might want to go back at the colt stadium yeah might want to go back

to the drawing board on that yeah i thought the shape we had with pretzels was working pretty well for generations we're just here trying to enjoy it we hope you all will join us throughout the year and let's go i hope i'm as youthful as pete carroll is at his age he's a young 73 he is a young 73 he is spry i wouldn't fight him i i would listen NFL cover zero with matt jones and drew franklin on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.

If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet,

We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Dan. He's Ty. Hello. And we're the solid verbal college football podcast.

College football season is here. And you know what that means. Your team is. going to break your heart three times, probably before Halloween. Uh-huh. But fear not. The solid verbal will be right there with you through every soul-crushing loss and impossible comeback.

Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport. Whether you're a die-heart fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and, of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere. else and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. We don't just love college football tie. We live it. Listen to the Solid Verbal College Football Podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show. And we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino.

Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk.

We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candice Parker and college superstar A.Z. Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. I don't know what you want to share because the relays are going to probably come after the 200. So you'll probably have some other women that's going to, you know, qualify. Have you guys decided on a race order? Yeah, so it's pretty, I would say it's pretty much set in stone. I think what's going to end up happening is that this is just as of today, obviously. I know that I will be leading it off and then my train, basically I'll be on through, it'll be my training partners on the. T.T.

Yep. So me to T.T. to Kayla White to Shikeri is the last I've heard of. As I've heard of Anything nothing trail yet We're about to get to go This is like This is like unofficial Okay so if something changes

Just say I'd I'd Okay that's what I'm saying Disclayward So Think about that Ocho We got the fastest woman in the world Running lead off

Hey The stagger already caught I don't know who y'all I don't know who Hey We're probably going to get lane five But six seven and eight I'm coming

Y'all these stater chairs y'all by what just a I'm switching to that order because you're not going to make me look bad and how this stagger walk down on me because what's the head is caught what's behind stays behind that's what coach used to tell her

son what is the head is caught what's behind stage behind because you already know she's going to eat up that stagger because ain't nobody else got their best runners on the first leg most people put their horses they put them at the second

or they put them at the third occasionally they'll sprinkle the ankle leg but you could be so far behind it doesn't matter unless you You saying, but it ain't nobody got no you saying. We got you saying, and she's running first leg for America. Y'all. Hey, hey, you need to hit him.

Hey, hit him with that piece out. Hey, just get the baton around the track. That's all you got to do. We got the fastest four women. Let me take that back. We got the fastest six women. You take anybody six women that's currently going to be in this relay. We got the fastest six.

Get the sticks around the track. That's all we got to do. Yep. That's all we got to do. We got this. We got this. We got it. We got it to a great start.

We won the goal in the woman's discus. We won the Krauser, won the shot. His first, his first meet. All year. All year. Three-time Olympic gold. Three-time world champion. Only the second man to win three consecutive world championship.

Oh, we've been doing, hey, what a hell. we were, we don't know what a well ago or something, didn't we? Oh, we're going to win the gold. Hey, we're going to get this goal into a hundred meter hurdles, too. Cordell Trench, I'm going on a record. Cordial Tens going to get the goal. Oh, I'm going to go with Cordell. Already?

I'm going to Cordell? Yeah. You go with Cordell? Okay, okay, okay, okay. Yeah, for sure. He's been running great. He's really been, he's the only one that's going under 13. Every other guys, 13, flat, 13-0-1, 13-0-0-1, 13-0-0-0-0-5.

1310, hey, he can cover some ground. So I'm going with Cordell. Going with Cordell, you know, I'm saying Cordell. But I mean, so when you win the goal and you go back to your room, could you rest or were you just so excited like you're just looking at that goal like, damn? So what's crazy is after we do media and then the other things I've waited, we got back to a hotel room and then I actually had. a chance to, like, meet up with my family and everything.

So my parents and I have aunts, uncles, and cousins out here, too. So I had a pretty good crowd of people to come all the way over here to support me. Wow, that's awesome. I spent some time with them. And that was good. And then by the time, I think I got to bed maybe around 3 a.m. But I was actually proud of myself. I slept for six hours.

And I feel like that's a winner. Really? Yeah, because last year after Paris, I slept for all of, like, three. And then woke up the next morning. It was on my phone, just checking everything. So, so who's DM'd you and said congratulations to have? Is there any like celebs or other athletes or entertainers that's congratulated you? Okay, so I have, I have one.

I have to make sure I say his last name right. But his name is Daniel, I believe it's Daniel. Oh, cool you. Daniel LaBelle. Daniel LaBelle. So he, who is he? He's really big on social media. He posts like.

different videos and it'd be like little funny stuff he'd be like um um i believe one time he raced against speed okay um but yeah i just like his videos it's like uh he has like 8.1 8.1 million followers and i saw he he he messaged me he was like congratulations and i was like oh my god thank you we got to get your followers up too we got to get you up into the three and four million yeah hey chat y'all do it's a favor go follow uh Uh, give me, give me, give them your, give them your tag. Give them your handle. It's, how can you find you on Twitter?

Uh, okay. Okay, so on Twitter, my name is at Melissa, M-E-L-I-S-A, J-A-J-A-N-A-E-T-A-N-A-E-21. Okay. And then on Instagram. IG. Oh, yeah, on IG, it's at underscore underscore Melissa J-19. Wow. Well, you always fans Melissa, I mean, growing up and

South Carolina, could you, I mean, I don't know if you have siblings, but were you the, were you the fastest girl in the neighborhood? Were you the fastest could you outrun the boys? Some of them I could. It was definitely like that. But I was like always fast on like the level that I was. So I went to a smaller school. My high school, I'm from the country.

So my high school was like, we went back and forth between 1A and 2A. And in South Carolina, you know, that's like real small. My graduating class was probably like, my husband would laugh at me but it's probably like 80 kids yeah well I'm happy with 60 okay so yeah so about 80 kids in my graduating class and then coastal Carolina you know obviously is a smaller D1 school does she has to clears yep shons up

and then so that was like a smaller D1 school too so it's pretty much like I've lived the the underdog life of just you know being fast at the level that I am and being in that area then it wasn't until like 2022 where everything like one knee just literally changed everything that's because that's what I was that's what I wanted to ask you because you said I was fast for for where I was it wasn't like when you go look at Shakari she's at a big at a where they got 3,000 kids and she runs what she runs and she goes to in a freshman year she wins the NCAAs or you see

Gabby Thomas how she burst on the scene or you see a Sydney McLaughlin that wasn't the case for you. When did you realize you could be a pro? Or was that always your goal to be a professional track and field runner? I didn't think that I could be crazy enough. I knew that one day I would go to the Olympics. I didn't know when. But I just knew that I could because of a coach that I had in high school, my freshman year high school, that was my second year doing high school. And then when I got to college and I had the coach there, that's a, when I was like, you know, I think I want to do, this is what I want to do for a living. And I was, I got to college the fall of 2019.

So that's when it really just was like, okay, I know this is what I want to do. I don't know how I'm going to get there, but I'm going to just trust the people around me to help me get me to where I'm supposed to be. So, and that's kind of how I went about it. Yeah, but I'm looking, you know, when you choose to do something, and it's just you, because track and feel is a really lonely, is it, is you versus you. Is you and your thoughts? is you and your training, is you and your nutrition.

So everything is dependent on you. And ain't a whole lot of money in track and feel. I mean, you can count it probably on one hand, maybe a Usain that made a bunch of money or Simone Bowles or Michael Phelps, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis. It's not, you know, flush with money, especially for the women. And so why, I mean, obviously you go to ecology,

You're like, okay, I'm going to get a degree. But why track and field? You just had something deep down inside of you say, you know what? I can make a living doing this. Yeah. And then I say it all the time. Like, I just, like, this is what I was, this is what I'm here to do. Like, I'm here to run.

I'm here. Yes. This is my gift that I'm supposed to be sharing with the world. And so the minute I got an understanding of that and realize, like, obviously, the higher I go into sport, the more sacrifice I'm going to have to make, the more I'm going to be disciplined. And like you say, like, like, you say, like, like obviously there's nowhere near as much money in our sport than there is in like football or basketball. But it's also just the resources that you do have, the money that you do have,

being smart with that, and investing in yourself in order to make sure that you're becoming the best athlete that you could possibly be. Like I feel, and I feel like it was so easy for me because I grew up always not having the resources that everybody else had, never needed for anything. I've always, I've always had what I needed. But when it came to like, you know, sports or the schools that I went to and things like that, we never had, um, the same resources as the bigger school. So it was just like, okay, Melissa, control the things that are in your control. And then the things that are out of your control, leave that to whoever is supposed to be to. And everything else will work itself out. Melissa, I'm looking at you. You're a thin, you're a thin young lady.

Um, so obviously you had to get stronger. You had to get. And I, and I, and I, and I know, women don't want to hear this, but you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. You had to get bigger. You had to get stronger. You were not strong enough to carry that. You needed to be able to propel yourself down the track. So women don't, don't beat up. She had a sharp call the woman big

say she did get bigger. But you don't understand what I'm talking. But you needed to grow. You needed to fill that frame out. And you're still a thin, you're still a thin, you're still a man young lady. But you're probably what, 15 pounds heavy than what you were, probably in high school, college?

If that. If that. So what's crazy is I think weight-wise, well, and I was because I got injured. So, yeah, I'm around the same way I was, but I'm definitely, I have more of the muscle mass that I'm supposed to have.

But I've definitely leaned out this year because I started working with a chef and everything and just like really paying attention to what I need. You hear that, Ocho? Wow. Wow, Ocho. She started working with a chef. And now she's the world of a chef.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. She said she's working with a chef. She didn't say what she was eating. She ain't eating bulljib. You don't look like that eating bulljad. McDonald's. You like McDonald's too?

I love McDonald's. Yeah. I love McDonald's. But, but sorry, Ocho, I will say, I have not been eating fast food. The last time I had fast food was before my wedding. February. And I said I wouldn't have any fast food until after I do all the things I want to do. See, that's okay. That's okay. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't try to change. Don't try to change. You heard what she said, right? Did you hear what she said? Did you hear what she said? She hasn't had it since February. That's okay. Because she was preparing for tonight or yesterday for that matter. It's okay. No, she, she ain't going to have no fast food until she get back to the States. But guess what?

She said, you know what? You see, she said, you know what, Ocho? You know what? Let me cut this fast food out and let me see just how great I can be. That ain't got nothing to do with it because she, listen, she was fast while she was eating it. She's fast or not that she's not eating it. No, you're mad. You're mad because you.

I didn't make. She just told you she hasn't had fast food since her wedding. She said February. She's been fast all her life. she wasn't this fast she wasn't this fast last year and a year before that no she wasn't

no she ran 10 6 back to back eating McDonald's so what you're saying didn't she just tell you she had to have McDonald's since back where she ran those times in June in July she had chicken McNuggets I saw it but

so now you now you shift your focus to the 200 There has not been a whole lot of women to win the world championship in the 100 and the two. Has that crossed your mind? You start putting yourself in very, very elite company. Oh, yeah. Now, the goal this year is, I won't say it was because it ain't done yet.

The goal this year is to win everything. Like I set out, yep, I set out that goal at the beginning of the year when I talked with my coaches and I said, well, you know, obviously at first like for the 200 because I'm a very realistic person too and I've fought back and forth with me running the 200 for a long time but now I'm starting to embrace it so I'm like okay if you stop playing around then you can actually win the whole thing so it went from that to just telling my coaches like I want to be able to take the 200 more serious to know I'm not only going to be like a contender like I want to be at the at the forefront you know like I want to be able to say like I came away with a gold medal and the 200. And I know that the only other woman to do so at a world championships is Shelly Ann Frazier Price. She'll happen to be the greatest, she's the greatest sprinter. She is back to back, eight and 12. She won the gold medal. And then you got you, and then she got five world championships in the 100. And she won the 200. So you're absolutely right. That's why

many labor her, the greatest woman sprinter in the history of the sport. And it's hard, look, it's hard to deny it. I know Elaine has won back-to-back 100th and 200s. Less of heart. But when you look at the totality and the longevity, she won a world championship in 135.

I was in that race, by the way. And it lasts. I remember there. Man, Melissa, we're happy. Nightcap, the family is very happy, very pleased. Congratulations. Thank you.

Thank you for taking time out of your schedule. to come on and talk to us. But, yeah, this is not the end. So what's next? After the World Championships is over, your season's over, now you go eat some McDonald's or you go get some oxtails

or you go get some shrimp at two-fetchings. Oh, you're from low country. You're down Georgetown near Charleston. So you're going to eat some, some, some, oh. Rice, neck bones. That's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm talking about. He waits.

What I'm talking about. Yeah, see, she's down to them geachies. She's down there in Georgetown. She went out. See, hey, Ocho, she'll tell you, they got up, when they brought us, they got up the boat down there close to where she had. Man, congratulations.

I know everybody in South Carolina is very proud of you. We're proud. We're extremely proud of what you've been able to do. But don't be satisfied. Be greedy. Oh, yeah. Be greedy. This is what I tell people.

They say, but man, they say, Shannon, if you cheat on the test, man, you don't want to get them all. right. I said, if I'm going to cheat, I'm getting 100. You there now. Don't be satisfied. Well, I got one goal. I'm happy if I win the silver to bronze. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Double gold. Do something that very few, and we don't know how. Think about it. In the history of the World Championships, the World Championship started in 1983. I don't know if you know this. In 1983 in Hellsick. I know. Only Shelly Ann has been able to back it up with the 100 and the two.

So you get an opportunity to do something that hadn't been in 40 years of World championships. Woo! It'd be special. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations. We're going to be pulling for you.

We're going to be watching. Hey, when you get that 200 gold, come on back. Come on back. Okay. I'm coming back. All right, we'll see you. I'm coming back.

Jefferson Wooden, the Olympic, the World Championship 100 meter gold medalist. Oh, wait. Fastest time ever run. Show us the battle. Yeah, I was just about. I'm about to say that. You should have had the metal on the whole.

Oh, there you got in the box. There you go. There you go. Oh, it's not. Yeah, there we go. There we go. We can see it back it up from the camera so to focus. Back it up a little bit, Melissa.

Oh, okay. Hold on. Dick. Let me just turn. Right there, right there you go. There you go. Hey. Nice.

Yeah. Got it last night. Round of applause. Melissa Jefferson Wood. Congratulations. Stay healthy. Hey. Get all of them.

$200, $400, 4 by 1. Mm-hmm. They might need a leg. They might need a leg on the 4x4 but I told them to hold off. Please hold off. If they want to win, they don't put me in there, not this year. I need some time. I need some time.

Well, congratulations. Go and join the rest of the evening with your family and your husband. Tell everybody at Nightcap, we said hello, and we look forward to talking to you very, very soon. Thank you. In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming tech at Lenovo.com.

Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming, and performance that won't quit. And push your gameplay beyond limits with Intel core ultra-processors. That's the power. of Lenovo with Intel inside. Maximize your edge by shopping at Lenovo.com during their back-to-school sale. That's Lenovo.com.

Lenovo, Lenovo. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts

pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies

to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how, Front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Dan. He's Ty. Hello. And we're the Solid Verbal College Football Podcast. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. Join us all season long as we ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport.

Listen to the Solid Verbal College Football Podcasts on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We don't just love college football, Ty. We live it. Thank you.