The curtain rises on the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Friday evening at Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium, with a powerful Jamaican delegation stepping into the spotlight.
Among those on duty for the opening day are Samantha Hall – women’s discus qualification, Ackelia Smith – women’s long jump qualification, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Tina Clayton – women’s 100m heats, Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville, Akeem Blake – men’s 100m, Adelle Tracey – women’s 1500m heats, Mixed 4x400m relay team – heats in the morning, with the final scheduled for Saturday morning (Jamaica time) if they progress.
With both field and track athletes spread across the day’s program, Jamaica enters the Championships with opportunities for early momentum — and possibly a first medal in the mixed relay.
Hall seeks breakthrough in the discus
The honor of striking the first competitive blow falls to Samantha Hall, Jamaica’s four-time national champion and NACAC titleholder. She joins Group B of the women’s discus qualification at 9:40 p.m. (EST).
Hall, now ranked 18th in the world, has been in the form of her career, setting a personal best of 64.97 meters earlier this season. After falling short of the final in Budapest two years ago with a throw of 58.43m, she returns determined to secure a spot among the world’s best.
Relay hopes rest on mixed quartet
To close the morning session, Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m relay squad will line up in Heat 1 against some of the heaviest hitters in the event: United States (the defending champions and world record holders), and Great Britain.
Advancing will require either a top-two finish or one of the two fastest times outside those automatic spots. A successful run would set up a golden opportunity — the final later that evening (9:20 a.m. (EST, Saturday), where a medal would be within reach.
Smith ready to take flight
At 5:30 a.m. (EST), all eyes turn to the women’s long jump pit, where Ackelia Smith begins her quest in Group A. With a career-best leap of 7.08m, Smith enters as the world’s fourth-ranked athlete.
Although her season best sits at 6.74m, she has already shown her big-stage temperament, reaching back-to-back World Championship finals and placing top eight at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Sprint royalty on display
The Jamaican sprint queens make their entrance just before dawn, as the women’s 100m heats begin at 5:55 a.m. (EST).
Tina Clayton, the national champion, runs in Heat 2, Shericka Jackson tackles Heat 3 and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, ever the championship stalwart, takes her lane in Heat 7.
With the top three from each heat plus the next three fastest advancing, Jamaica’s trio are all favored to book semi-final spots.
Tracey takes on the 1500m
Middle-distance specialist Adelle Tracey begins her campaign in Heat 3 of the women’s 1500m at 7:10 a.m. (EST). Her season’s best of 4:06.23 minutes leaves her needing a marked improvement to finish inside the top six and continue to the next round.
Jamaica expects to field Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville, and Akeem Blake in the men’s 100m heats. Thompson, the rising star, alongside the consistent Seville and the explosive Blake, could all stake early claims as medal contenders.
Eyes on a possible first medal
The opening day may yet deliver silverware. Should the mixed 4x400m relay team survive the morning heats, Jamaica will return to the track for the final at 9:20 a.m. (EST), carrying the nation’s first medal hopes of the Tokyo Championships.
