In a stunning showcase of Jamaican excellence, the Doha leg of the 2024 Jetour Diamond League turned into a vibrant Caribbean carnival as Tia and Tina Clayton etched their names in history with a dazzling one-two finish in the women’s 100 meters on Friday.
Their explosive performance was the crown jewel in a night that also saw Rasheed Broadbell and Shanieka Ricketts deliver emphatic victories, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reminded the world that greatness never fades.
Clayton twins create magic
Tia Clayton was untouchable on the track, roaring to victory with a world-leading 10.92 seconds—a commanding display that eclipsed the 10.98-second mark set earlier in the season by American Anavia Battle. Her twin sister Tina wasn’t far behind, clocking 11.02 seconds to complete a rare and electrifying sibling sweep in Diamond League history.
Yet, despite the global acclaim, Tia was self-critical, pinpointing her start as the only blemish on an otherwise stellar run.
“I made the world-leading mark, but honestly, I didn’t do the best possible,” she admitted. “I didn’t do it because I couldn’t do the start I always get, but other than that, it was a great race for me.”
The feat marked Tia’s fifth career sub-11 clocking and underscored her growing dominance in the event. But what made the moment truly special was sharing the podium with her twin—training partner, competitor, and now silver medalist.
“It is very special for me and my twin sister to finish first and second in this event tonight. I wouldn’t say that I was nervous, but I just needed to get it together,” Tia reflected.
Tina, who posted a new season’s best, echoed her sister’s mixed emotions—pleased but not quite satisfied.
“I think I executed the race a bit poorly but I can’t complain,” she said. “I have to be grateful for this result because it is still the beginning of the season, and it is a season best for me.”
Still, the magnitude of their shared achievement wasn’t lost on her.
“To be second just behind my sister Tia is a great feeling. We are twin sisters, we are training partners, and we also compete together. When we line up for a race, we are no longer sisters, we are rival competitors, but after the race is over, it feels really good to make the top two places.”
Fraser-Pryce finds her footing
Just off the podium, sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce placed fourth in 11.05 seconds, marking a strong season’s debut. Despite missing out on a top-three finish, the five-time world champion radiated positivity.
“It had been a while since I competed consistently,” Fraser-Pryce said. “I’m glad that I finished fourth… It is a long season, so we just continue to work and hope for the best. As a mother, I have to balance between being a mom and an athlete and being present at different moments when you’re required to be… And I really just enjoy the moment.”
Great Britain’s Amy Hunt clocked a personal best 11.03 seconds to edge Fraser-Pryce for third.
Broadbell blazes to hurdles win
On the men’s side, Rasheed Broadbell continued his steady ascent in the 110m hurdles, storming to a season-best 13.14 seconds to dismiss the field. After a slower start, Broadbell surged ahead by the seventh hurdle, beating American Jamal Britt (13.25) and Spain’s Enrique Llopis (13.27) with authority.
“My aim is to be faster and faster in every race,” Broadbell explained. “I came out okay, so I pushed it. I felt some pressure, and I was telling myself that I should just relax… I relaxed, I came first to cross the line, and when I saw my mark I said, ‘Oh, okay.’”
The Olympic bronze medalist has his eyes on more than just fast times.
“I could have won with a faster time,e but I’m good with it anyway… This season I’m gonna run faster, I think, and I’m not worried.”
Ricketts rules the triple jump
Meanwhile, Shanieka Ricketts soared to victory in the women’s triple jump, opening with a strong 14.30m before launching a season-best 14.72m to fend off Olympic champion Thea LaFond of Dominica (14.39m). France’s Ilionis Guillaume claimed third with a wind-aided 14.20m.
Ricketts attributed her success to a mindset shift—calm, joyful, and focused.
“[I’m in the] best state of mind of my career,” she said. “I’m at a point in which I’m just enjoying the sport. Tonight was really good. I got so much support from the crowd; I used that energy they gave me in order to feel good.”
She added: “It’s an internal thing for me to be really focused on the competition. I am a very relaxed person. Every season I aim to be at the top of the podium and this year will be no different. It is quite hot here at the Jetour Doha Diamond League but it’s rather hot in Jamaica, too, so being here makes me feel like home!”
Other Jamaican results
While the marquee events belonged to the Jamaican victors, other national athletes battled fiercely. Romaine Beckford placed fifth in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.20m—matched by Vernon Turner, who finished fourth. Raymond Richards was ninth at 2.15m. Fedrick Dacres took seventh in the discus with 64.71m, Adelle Tracey finished 11th in the women’s 1500m (4:11.76 minutes), and Malik James-King stumbled to eighth in the men’s 400m hurdles after hitting a barrier and falling to the ground, before jogging across the finish line in 1:03.09 minutes.
A night to remember
From the sprints to the jumps and over the hurdles, the Doha Diamond League was a celebration of Jamaica’s athletic prowess. With the Clayton twins taking center stage and veterans like Ricketts and Broadbell cementing their dominance, the island nation sent a clear message: the road to World Championships glory in Tokyo runs through Kingston.
