Kishane Thompson on his way to 100m victory at the Jamaican Championships (© Athelstan Bellamy)
Kishane Thompson and Shericka Jackson stormed to 100m wins on day two of the Jamaican Championships in Kingston on Friday (28).
The first half of the four-day championships lived up to its hype, producing several personal bests and surprises as athletes looked to secure places for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
At last year’s Jamaican Championships, Thompson showed great promise in his heat, running a PB of 9.91. However, it proved to be a cameo appearance at the championships, as he did not show up for the semifinals. Fast forward a year, and the 22-year-old set tongues wagging in the heats with a 9.82 personal best. He then cruised to a 9.84 semifinal win, setting up an exciting final showdown against the favourite, Oblique Seville, who ran 9.83 in the other semifinal.
But Seville proved no match for the Stephen Francis-coached Thompson, who powered away from the field at the midway mark and even had the luxury of slowing down to glance at the clock, which flashed up with a lifetime best and world-leading 9.77 (0.9m/s).
The performance is the fastest in the world since 2022 and it moves Thompson to joint ninth on the world all-time list.
Seville claimed second in 9.82, matching his personal best, while Ackeem Blake finished third in 9.92.
“This year is the best I’ve ever been health-wise,” said Thompson, who was racing for the first time since finishing fourth in the Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene in September.
“Running the three rounds at this championship has helped me better understand my body and the sport. I was never short on confidence, but I believe I have much more to do as I can run way faster. Deep down, I look forward to some great competition and nice vibes from the top sprinters.”
The women’s 100m was one of the most anticipated events of the championships, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding the readiness of multiple world and three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, competing for the final time on home soil, and the form of world silver medallist Jackson. However, both women dispelled all doubts and remained true to their character of delivering when it truly matters, making their mark in a historic final.
Jackson had to dig deep to fend off the challenge of her determined training partner, Tia Clayton. The 19-year-old Clayton consistently impressed throughout, setting personal bests in the heats (11.02) and semifinals (10.86).
Jackson won the final in 10.84 (-0.3m/s) ahead of Clayton (10.90) and Fraser-Pryce (10.94).
“My main goal was to make the top three,” said Jackson. “I know I was in shape based on how well training was going. People were speculating because they did not see me at my best, but my coach and I know when to peak for championships.”
Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce, who, like Jackson, dipped below 11 seconds in every round, expressed gratitude for making her fifth Olympic team. “This has definitely been one of those seasons where it has been a bit challenging with its ups and downs, but nonetheless, I am happy to make the team,” she said. “I look forward to going back to training and preparing for Paris.”
Elaine Thompson-Herah, who became the first woman in 28 years to win both the Olympic 100m and 200m titles and made history by being the first woman to retain both sprint titles, unfortunately had to withdraw on the eve of the national championships. The five-time Olympic champion sustained a leg injury at the New York Grand Prix on 9 June and could not recover in time for the event.
The men's 400m became a must-see event following Jamaica’s setback in The Bahamas, where the country's 4x400m team failed to automatically qualify for the Paris Olympics. After another unsuccessful attempt to make it into the top 16 teams to secure a place, organisers revised the schedule to accommodate the relay event and give Jamaica a final opportunity to qualify. This change saw the men’s 400m semifinals contested on the opening day of the championships, with the final taking place the following day.
But world champion Antonio Watson's Olympic dreams were dashed after 150 metres when he suffered an injury, becoming another major casualty of the championships. Deandre Watkin seized the opportunity to create a huge upset, breaking the 45-second barrier for the first time. Crossing the line in 44.48, he defeated defending champion Sean Bailey (44.65) and Jevaughn Powell (44.79).
Malik James-King produced the race of his life when he became the third Jamaican to run the men’s 400m hurdles in under 48 seconds. He won the race in 47.42, just 0.08 off the national record held by Roshawn Clarke, who was well beaten into second (48.04).
“I am more excited than surprised, as I prepared properly and was really focused,” said James-King, who was celebrating his 25th birthday. Two-time world U20 champion Jaheel Hyde finished third in a season’s best 48.35.
In the women’s equivalent, Rushell Clayton, a two-time world bronze medallist, solidified her status as the nation’s top one-lap hurdler with an impressive run of 52.51. She moved to eighth on the world all-time list and second on Jamaica’s all-time list behind Melaine Walker’s 52.42. Janieve Russell (53.33) and Shiann Salmon (53.71) took second and third, respectively.
“Since last year’s World Championships, I decided to start my races with more aggression and just build on what I’ve learned,” said Rushell Clayton. “I have two more races, including the London Diamond League, to tune up.”
Noel Francis for World Athletics
At the Canadian trials in Montreal, Olympic 200m champion and 100m bronze medallist Andre De Grasse won a close race in the shorter discipline, clocking 10.20 (-0.3m/s) ahead of Eliezer Adjibi (10.23) and Aaron Brown (10.25), who like De Grasse ran 10.10 in the heats.
The women’s title was claimed by national record-holder Audrey Leduc in 11.20 (0.1m/s), following a 11.09 run in the heats.
Alysha Newman cleared 4.75m to win the pole vault before attempting 4.85m, which would have improved her own national record, while world indoor champion Sarah Mitton won the shot put with 19.62m.
There was a fast 800m heat by world champion Marco Arop, who clocked 1:43.53.
Ingebrigtsen completes national 1500m and 5000m double
Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen achieved a national 1500m and 5000m double on his home track in Sandnes, winning the shorter event at the Norwegian Championships on Friday (28) and following that with 5000m victory on Saturday (29).
In the 1500m he ran 3:34.03 in cool and blustery conditions and one day later he clocked a 5000m championship record of 13:14.36, leading the top five under 13:25. World bronze medallist Narve Gilje Nordas was a close second in 13:14.99.
Henriette Jaeger also set a championship record and achieved a national title double, winning the 200m in 22.86 (1.6m/s) after taking the 400m crown in 51.69. Decathlete Sander Skotheim jumped 7.94m to win the long jump.
Five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek won the hammer ahead of Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki at the Polish Championships in Bydgoszcz on Friday (28), surpassing 80 metres for the first time this season with 80.02m to Nowicki’s 75.89m.
Natalia Kaczmarek, who improved the Polish record to 48.98 at the European Championships, clocked 50.77 to retain the national 400m title. Jakub Szymanski won the 110m hurdles in 13.25 (1.1m/s) to equal the national record, while Pia Skrzyszowska topped the 100m hurdles in 12.67 (0.5m/s).
At the Swiss Championships in Winterthur, 2022 world indoor 60m champion Mujinga Kambundji won the 100m in 11.01 (0.2m/s) on Friday (28), finishing 0.14 ahead of Salome Kora. Geraldine Frey was third in 11.21.
The long jump finals were won by world indoor heptathlon champion Simon Ehammer (8.03m) and national record-holder Annik Kalin (6.82m), while Angelica Moser cleared 4.65m to claim the pole vault title.
Four athletes dipped below the Olympic qualification standard in the women's 800m on Saturday (29), led by Rachel Pellaud in a PB of 1:58.60. She was followed by world U20 silver medallist Audrey Werro (1:58.67), Valentina Rosamilla (1:58.69) and Lore Hoffmann (1:59.26).
Kalin followed her long jump win on Friday with 100m hurdles victory on Saturday, setting a PB of 12.97, while Kambundji completed a sprint double, clocking 22.42 for her eighth national title in the discipline. William Reais did the same in the men’s events, winning the 100m in 10.26 and 200m in 20.27. Jason Joseph won the 110m hurdles in 13.26 ahead of Ehammer in 13.38.
Lionel Spitz was just 0.02 off the Swiss record in winning the men’s 400m in 45.01.
Owen Ansah became the first German sprinter to dip below 10 seconds for 100m, running 9.99 (0.5m/s) at the German Championships in Braunschweig on Saturday (29).
Taking 0.02 off Julian Reus' eight-year-old national record, Ansah also achieved the qualification mark for the Paris Olympics. Behind him, Joshua Hartmann was second in a PB of 10.06.
The women’s title was won by Gina Luckenkemper in 11.04 ahead of Alexandra Burghardt in 11.26.
Olympic and world fourth-place finisher Julian Weber won his fourth consecutive national javelin title, throwing 86.63m to capture the crown again ahead of 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler with 76.84m.
Kristin Pudenz secured her sixth national discus title in a row, throwing 65.93m.
Molly Caudery retained her national pole vault title, while Louie Hinchliffe and Daryll Neita claimed 100m wins at the UK Championships in Manchester on Saturday (29).
Competing in wet conditions, world indoor champion Caudery – who set a British record of 4.92m a week prior – cleared 4.83m to win and then attempted 4.93m.
“I am very happy with the position I am in right now and I think if there’d been no wind I’d have nailed that last jump,” she told British Athletics. “I have had to force myself to review my expectations - coming into the season it was definitely about reaching Paris, now it is to medal.”
NCAA champion Hinchliffe, who is coached by Carl Lewis, ran 10.18 (-0.8m/s) to win his first national 100m title, while Neita clocked 11.24 (-1.5m/s) to regain the crown.
Cindy Sember secured a spot at her third Olympics by winning a fifth national 100m hurdles title in 12.85 (-1.8m/s), while Lizzie Bird ran a championship record of 9:29.67 in challenging conditions to win the 3000m steeplechase and also secure her Paris place. Hannah Nuttall pipped Verity Ockenden to the 5000m title, 15:13.70 to 15:13.78.
Matteo Melluzzo won the men’s 100m and Lorenzo Simonelli the 110m hurdles at the Italian Championships in La Spezia on Saturday (29).
In a race missing Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, Melluzzo ran 10.12 (1.0m/s) ahead of Samuele Ceccarelli in 10.21, while Simonelli clocked 13.18 (-1.3m/s) to capture the crown.
National record-holder and world indoor 60m bronze medallist Zaynab Dosso won the women’s 100m in 11.20 (0.8m/s) and Giada Carmassi the 100m hurdles in a PB of 12.87 (0.4m/s).
The 5000m titles were won by European champion Nadia Battocletti in 15:24.69 and Pietro Arese in 13:35.97
Roberta Bruni cleared 4.55m to win the pole vault.
At a rainy French Championships in Angers on Saturday (29), the women’s 100m title was claimed by Gemima Joseph in a PB of 11.01 (1.3m/s) ahead of Chloe Galet who ran 11.14 after clocking a PB of 11.11 in the heats.
Pauline Lett topped the 100m hurdles with a 12.94 PB and Alice Finot set a championship record of 9:29.78 to win her fourth national 3000m steeplechase title.
Over at the Greek Championships in Volos, Emmanouil Karalis improved his own national pole vault record by a centimetre to 5.93m before attempting 6.00m.
Among the performances at the Chinese Championships in Rizhao was a Chinese U20 record of 10.06 (1.1m/s) by 17-year-old He Jinxian to win the 100m. Yan Ziyi won the javelin ahead of Lyu Huihui, 63.51m to 61.50m.
