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Three Of The Hottest Performers On The Professional Track Circuit This Year

Three Of The Hottest Performers On The Professional Track Circuit This Year

The 2025 outdoor season is in full swing, and Cordell Tinch, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Jacory Patterson lead the way as they continue to shine.

May 9, 2025 by Maxx Bradley
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Call it recency bias if you must, but these three fast-twitch superstars are already in the midst of their dream seasons and it's not even June. 

Over the first couple weeks of the outdoor campaign, early-season Diamond League meetings and the first two weekends of Grand Slam Track have provided plenty of opportunities for these three athletes to quickly rise toward the top of the track and field hierarchy. 

1. Cordell Tinch

Even if you're just now hearing his name, Cordell Tinch has been a household name for a lot of track fans thanks to his semester of dominance at Division II powerhouse Pittsburg State. 

Following a three-year hiatus from the sport, the former Kansas Jayhawk and Coffeyville Community College Red Raven got back into the sport thanks to a college roommate's belief in him. 

You could say his time in Pittsburg, Kansas was short-lived, but his five individual national titles and various collegiate records make up for the fact he turned professional just over six months after his return to the sport. 

That summer, Tinch finished runner-up in the U.S. final over the high hurdles before making it to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Championships. Last summer, Tinch finished fourth at the U.S. Trials, making him the first man left off of the 2024 Olympic team. 

Flash forward to 2025 and the Green Bay native is the fastest hurdler in the world and firing on all cylinders.

His second full season as a professional has gotten off to a great start on the outdoor circuit, beginning with a third-place finish in the short hurdles group at the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica. In the weeks following, Tinch clocked a wind-aided 12.97 at the Pittsburg State Tune-Up, before heading to the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai. 

In the prelims, Tinch cruised through in a wind-legal 13.06, but followed that up with the fourth-fastest performance in world history, a lifetime PB of 12.87. The 24-year-old is only the seventh person to ever run sub-12.90, and sits atop the world lists heading into the rest of the season. 

2. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden

It's safe to say that the 2022 U.S. Champion has been on a tear as of late, simply dominating at both Grand Slam Track: Kingston and GST: Miami. 

The Olympic and World champion has proven to be one of the best in the world in the short sprints, taking down world class fields en route to big-time wins. In Kingston, Jefferson-Wooden won both the 100m (11.11) and 200m (23.46) with ease, and then took care of business again in Miami, where she finished first and third in 10.75 (+2.4) and 22.15, respectively. 

Heading into the second slate of May competition, Jefferson-Wooden sits in a tie for the 13th fastest woman in the world this year, but is in a league of her own if we're entertaining her wind-aided time of 10.75 from last weekend. 

Yes, the 24-year-old had a little help from a +2.4 tailwind, but it's incredibly clear that Jefferson-Wooden is one of the top sprinters in the world this year regardless of time.

In both of her 100m races this year, the former Coastal Carolina standout has gone unbeaten. 

3. Jacory Patterson

While competing for the legendary Mike Holloway at the University of Florida, quarter-miler Jacory Patterson racked up quite a few accolades. 

Along with his collection of SEC titles and All-Conference honors, Patterson was apart of two national title-winning 4x400m relays, and was a five-time All-American in addition to his pair of titles. 

After taking his talents to the professional circuit, the first two U.S. championships of Patterson's career ended in the semi-finals, but 2025 has kind to the full-time UPS employee, as the 25-year-old has been tough to beat.

As a Grand Slam Track Challenger in Miami, Patterson ran the 400m world lead pf 43.98, meaning he fully skipped the 44's after entering the meet with a 45.02 PB. The former Gator also finished sixth in the 200m (20.55), enough to finish runner-up in the long sprints race group and head home $50,000 richer. 

Now that he knows he can do it, don't be surprised if he is one of the biggest names in the event throughout the summer. He leads a trio of American men on the world list this season, and he is nearly one-fifth of a second over the next fastest man. 

Patterson is one of just 27 men to ever run sub-44, and the 15th American to accomplish the feat. 

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