Kishane Thompson at the Jamaican Championships (© Herbert Thomas)
Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson ran a world-leading PB of 9.75 (0.8 m/s) to win the men’s 100m at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston on Friday (27).
It’s the fastest time in the world since 2015 and now elevates Thompson to sixth on the world all-time list. The 24-year-old had fired warning shots almost two hours earlier in the semifinals when he blazed to a world-leading 9.80.
“I’m never going to surprise myself, because I know how capable I am,” said Thompson after retaining his title. “I am very confident; even if I break the world record, it wouldn’t surprise me because I am that confident, and I’m working to achieve all my goals and the accolades.”
Oblique Seville, a finalist at the past three global championships, overcame some pre-race discomfort to finish second in a season’s best of 9.83, just 0.02 shy of his PB. 2024 Diamond League champion Ackeem Blake finished third in a PB of 9.88.
The women’s 100m marked the final time multiple world and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would compete inside the national stadium. Two-time world U20 champion Tina Clayton, who missed out on the final last year, made amends this time and was impressive throughout the rounds en route to winning the final in a PB of 10.81 (0.1m/s).
Three-time defending champion Shericka Jackson came through for second in a season’s best of 10.88, with sentimental favourite Fraser-Pryce raising the decibel levels of an appreciative grandstand crowd with a third-place finish in 10.91.
“One thing I knew I had on my side was experience,” said Fraser-Pryce, now 38. “I am grateful for that fighting spirit that says it’s never over until it’s over, and once I step on the start line, I am ready. Knowing that I’m not race sharp and running 10.91 is a big deal.
“Many people don’t know that Japan is where I started my first senior international championships,” added Fraser-Pryce, who ran in the heats of the 4x100m for Jamaica at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. “It’s such a full circle moment for me to be going back to Japan.”
Tapper, McDonald and Bennett impress
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper produced a scintillating run to stun the defending champion and national record-holder Ackera Nugent in the women’s 100m hurdles on Sunday (29), the final night of the championships. Tapper registered a massive PB of 12.34 (0.1m/s) to become the fourth-fastest Jamaican sprint hurdler. Nugent was second in 12.41.
“I didn’t have any background training this season because I was cautious about my hamstring,” said Tapper. “Now that I’m healthy and have two and half months to train and put in some work, I’m going to maximise the time to get in some real speed training and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tragedy struck ahead of the men’s 110m hurdles final when pre-race favourite Rasheed Broadbell suffered an injury in a freak accident during warm-up. Orlando Bennett won the event in a season’s best of 13.10 (0.4m/s) ahead of world indoor finalist DeMario Prince, who clocked a 13.12 PB, and Tyler Mason (13.22).
“During the middle of my warm-up session, I heard this big crash and looked around and saw him (Broadbell) on the ground,” said Bennett.
“I knew I had to get out tonight because some incredible athletes were in the race. I went in with the right mindset and knew I had to finish strong.”
The 400m finals produced exciting finishes. Rusheen McDonald, who had never won a 400m domestic title, unleashed a burst of speed in the home straight to complete a famous victory in 44.89. McDonald was pushed by the spirited 21-year-old Delano Kennedy, who improved his PB to 44.91.
In the women’s equivalent, Nickisha Pryce successfully defended her title with a hard-fought victory in a season’s best of 49.97. The battle for second was fierce between Dejanea Oakley and Stacey-Ann Williams, who looked inseparable as they crossed the line. Both were credited with the same time (50.08) but the photo finish decided Oakley was second.
Following his disappointing showing in the 100m final on Friday, Bryan Levell shrugged off injury fears. He secured his spot for Tokyo with a storming victory in the men’s 200m in 20.10, which was comfortably inside the World Championships qualification standard of 20.16. Levell pulled Christopher Taylor, who was second, to a personal best of 20.28.
On Saturday (28), two-time world bronze medallist Rushell Clayton clocked a season’s best of 53.81 to win the women’s 400m hurdles.
“This season has been a rollercoaster that was mostly going down,” said Clayton after winning her first race in nine appearances this season. “However, in the last three weeks, I told myself I need to get on that plane to Tokyo and to win here feels awesome.”
World U20 record-holder Roshawn Clarke ran a season’s best of 48.02 to reclaim the 400m hurdles title he surrendered last year to Malik James-King, who finished third in 48.49 this time around as Assinie Wilson clinched second in 48.42.
Tyrice Taylor (1:45.26) surprised national record-holder Navasky Anderson (1:46.03) in the men’s 800m. The upsets continued as Natoya Goule (2:00.97) lost her first national 800m final since 2013, as Kelly-Ann Beckford 2:00.23 ran a tactical race for the win.
In the field, world and Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts secured her seventh domestic title in the triple jump, after bounding 14.52m. “The triple jump is a competitive sport,” said Ricketts. “These championships get us ready and prepared to fight when we get to the big games like a World Championships.”
In the men’s triple jump, Diamond League leader Jordan Scott celebrated his 28th birthday in fine style by earning his first World Championships spot with a winning effort of 17.15m.
Newly minted NCAA champion Ralford Mullings overcame foul throws in the first two rounds and a slippery throwing circle to win the men’s discus with a 65.82m effort. 2019 world silver medallist and five-time national champion Fedrick Dacres was second with 63.54m. “It’s been a good season so far, this is my fifth meet of the year and I’m just aiming for what’s relevant,” said Mullings.
Romaine Beckford edged world indoor bronze medallist Raymond Richards for the men’s high jump title on countback with a first-time clearance at 2.20m, whereas Richards required two attempts to keep pace. Both men battled fiercely, clearing 2.25m on their final attempts before bowing out when the bar was raised to 2.28m.
The absence of 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle and world and Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock ensured Carey McLeod, who finished fourth at the 2023 World Championships, had no serious challenge in the men’s long jump, which he duly wrapped up by cutting the sand at 8.16m in the second round. Meanwhile, Olympic finalist Ackelia Smith won her third domestic title in the women’s long jump with a wind-aided 6.81m (4.3m/s).
Noel Francis for World Athletics
