Day Two of the 2025 World Athletics Championships belonged to Jamaica, as the island’s sprinters stormed into the spotlight with a glittering haul of one gold and two silver medals.
A dazzling one-two in the men’s 100 meters and a breakthrough podium finish in the women’s equivalent had Jamaican fans inside the National Stadium celebrating long into the evening.
Seville shocks the world, Thompson claims silver
The night’s crescendo came in the men’s 100m final, where Oblique Seville delivered the race of his life to capture gold in a blistering 9.77 seconds. The 24-year-old surged past all and sundry to etch his name alongside Jamaica’s sprinting greats.
Close behind, teammate Kishane Thompson, the Olympic silver medalist, clocked 9.82 seconds for silver, ensuring Jamaica’s first one-two in the event ever.
Former champion Noah Lyles of the United States was left with bronze in 9.89 seconds, while his compatriot Kenneth Bednarek finished fourth in 9.92 seconds. For Jamaica, it marked their first men’s 100m world title since Bolt’s farewell triumph in 2015.
Clayton’s breakthrough on global stage
If Seville lit the fuse, Tina Clayton ignited a new flame in the women’s 100m. The two-time World Under-20 champion produced the run of her career, securing silver in a personal-best 10.76 seconds.
The gold, however, belonged to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States, who powered to a Championship Record 10.61 seconds to stamp her dominance as the world’s fastest woman.
Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia took bronze in 10.84 seconds, while Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson placed fourth in 10.88 seconds.
In one of the evening’s most poignant moments, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, running her final individual global championship race, finished sixth in 11.03 seconds. The crowd rose in ovation, honoring a career that has spanned nearly two decades of sprinting brilliance.
Momentum on the medal table
By night’s end, Jamaica sat with three medals—one gold and two silvers—a resounding start to their campaign and a clear statement that their sprinting legacy remains alive and potent.
Jamaican women dominate sprint hurdle heats
Earlier in the day, Jamaica’s women cleared their first hurdles—literally—with commanding performances in the 100m hurdles.
Danielle Williams, the two-time world champion, clocked the fastest time of the round with 12.40 seconds, breezing through heat two.
Ackera Nugent impressed with victory in heat four in 12.54 seconds. Amoi Brown secured safe passage as well, placing third in heat five in 12.82 seconds.
Elsewhere, the Caribbean was well represented: Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas advanced with 12.69 seconds in heat six, finishing behind Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (12.53).
Cuba’s Greisys Roble qualified with 12.84 seconds, while Saint Lucia’s Aasia Laurencin (13.03) and The Bahamas’ Denisha Cartwright (13.50) bowed out.
Jamaica’s Megan Tapper, however, was a non-starter after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Mixed fortunes in the field
Jamaica’s Nayoka Clunis finished 23rd overall in the women’s hammer throw with 66.24m, while Samantha Hall, the first Jamaican ever to contest the women’s discus final, placed 12th with 60.69m.
In the men’s high jump, Romaine Beckford scraped into the final with a clearance of 2.25m, earning the 13th and final qualifying spot. Teammate Raymond Richards fell short, finishing 22nd overall, while Bahamian veteran Donald Thomas (2.21m) also missed the cut.
Strong progress in the 400m
On the track, Jamaica showed depth in both men’s and women’s 400m events:
Rusheen McDonald, the national record holder, clocked a season’s best 44.38 seconds to finish second in his heat.
Bovel McPherson ran a personal best 44.51 seconds, while Delano Kennedy advanced with 44.74 seconds.
Defending champion Antonio Watson, however, struggled badly, finishing last in his heat in 46.23 seconds and exiting the competition.
The Caribbean’s pride extended further: Grenada’s Kirani James (44.66) advanced smoothly. Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards won heat one in 44.64 seconds.
On the women’s side:
Nickisha Pryce dominated her heat with 49.91 seconds. Stacey-Ann Williams ran a personal best 49.59 seconds for second in hers, and Dejanae Oakley also progressed in 51.07 seconds.
Elsewhere, Wedeline Venlogh of Haiti shattered her national record with 49.91 seconds, while the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino topped her heat in 49.85 seconds.
Looking ahead to Day Three
Day Three promises even more fireworks. Jamaica’s hurdlers—Danielle Williams, Ackera Nugent, and Amoi Brown—will chase medals in the 100m hurdles, with semi-finals at 8:05 a.m. EST and the final set just over an hour later.
The day will also feature the start of the 400m hurdles for both men and women, and the men’s long jump, offering Jamaica and the wider Caribbean more chances to shine.
