Jamaica’s next generation of track and field stars will take center stage later this month after the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) unveiled a 28-member squad (including reserves) for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships, set for March 20-22 in Toruń, Poland.
Among the most intriguing names on the roster is former World Under-20 200-meter champion Brianna Lyston, whose return to international competition adds an exciting dimension to Jamaica’s sprint line-up. Lyston’s inclusion underscores the administration’s faith in a young core of athletes who have dominated youth sprinting over the past several years and are now transitioning to the senior stage.
Lyston back in the spotlight
Lyston’s journey back to the national team has been closely watched.
After delivering a standout collegiate season at Louisiana State University, she was forced to sidestep Jamaica’s Olympic Trials in 2024 because of a minor injury. She also did not contest last year’s World Championships Trials, leaving fans eager to see her return to top-level competition.
Now fully fit, the former junior star will contest the women’s 60 meters in Toruń. She will line up alongside experienced sprinter Jonielle Smith, while Tina Clayton has been named as the reserve for the event.
Smith enters the championships in strong form. Her season’s best of 7.04 seconds ranks joint sixth in the world this year, narrowly ahead of Lyston, who clocked 7.07 seconds at the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Indoor Center in Fayetteville, Arizona, last month.
Jamaican sprinters among world leaders
Jamaica’s men’s 60 metres squad arrives in Poland with significant global credentials.
Kishane Thompson, Bryan Levell, and Ackeem Blake will spearhead the country’s charge in the explosive event, with Kadrian Goldson serving as reserve.
Both Thompson and Levell currently sit among the fastest men in the world this season. Thompson holds the fourth-fastest time globally with a blistering 6.46 seconds, while Levell is fifth at 6.47 seconds.
Blake, meanwhile, has also stamped his authority on the event this year, ranking joint eighth worldwide with a season’s best of 6.48 seconds.
Hurdles talent emerging
Jamaica will also feature a compelling mix of experience and emerging talent in the sprint hurdles.
Veteran campaigner Megan Simmonds will represent the country in the women’s 60-meter hurdles alongside rising standout Oneka Wilson, who has earned her first call-up to a senior Jamaican team.
Wilson, a Clemson University athlete, has built an impressive résumé during her collegiate career. She enters the championships as the reigning four-time Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor champion in the 60m hurdles, reinforcing her reputation as one of Jamaica’s most promising young hurdlers.
On the men’s side, Demario Prince and Jerome Campbell will contest the 60m hurdles, with Vashaun Vascianna named as reserve.
Middle-distance momentum
National indoor record holder Navasky Anderson will lead Jamaica’s hopes in the men’s 800 meters after producing a breakthrough performance earlier this season.
Anderson ran a personal best of 1:44.75 minutes last month, a mark that propelled him to 11th in the world rankings and confirmed his growing stature in the event.
He will be joined by Rivaldo Marshall, the second-fastest Jamaican over the distance this season, with a personal best of 1:45.62 minutes.
In the women’s 800 metres, Natoya Goule-Toppin and Kelly-Ann Beckford will carry the national colors.
Relay shake-up alters women’s plans
Relay preparations underwent a late adjustment.
The JAAA had originally assembled six-athlete pools for both the men’s and women’s 4×400-metre relays. However, the women’s relay team was eventually withdrawn after what the administration described as the “late withdrawal of some athletes.”
The initial women’s relay pool was expected to feature Nickisha Pryce, Shana-Kaye Anderson, Leah Anderson, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Natoya Goule-Toppin, and rising high school talent Shanoya Douglas.
The men’s relay squad remains intact, with Delano Kennedy, Reheem Hayles, Kimar Farquharson, Tyrice Taylor, Rivaldo Marshall, and Demar Francis selected to represent Jamaica.
Farquharson and Francis are the only returning members from the Jamaican quartet that captured silver at last year’s World Indoor Championships.
Field event medal hopes
Jamaica’s medal ambitions will also extend to the field events.
Lamara Distin will contest the women’s high jump, while Nia Robinson has been selected for the women’s long jump.
In the men’s long jump, Carey McLeod and Tajay Gayle will represent the island, while Jordan Scott will compete in the men’s triple jump.
Shantae Foreman rounds out the field contingent as Jamaica’s representative in the women’s triple jump.
Jamaica enters the championships with confidence after claiming four medals at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, two silver and two bronze.
Jamaica’s 28-member team (including reserves)
Men
60m — Ackeem Blake, Kishane Thompson, Bryan Levell, Kadrian Goldson (reserve)
60m hurdles — Demario Prince, Jerome Campbell, Vashaun Vascianna (reserve)
400m — Delano Kennedy, Reheem Hayles
800m — Navasky Anderson, Rivaldo Marshall
4x400m relay — Delano Kennedy, Reheem Hayles, Kimar Farquharson, Tyrice Taylor, Rivaldo Marshall, Demar Francis
Long Jump — Carey McLeod, Tajay Gayle
Triple Jump — Jordan Scott
Women
60m — Jonielle Smith, Brianna Lyston, Tina Clayton (reserve)
60m hurdles — Megan Simmonds, Oneka Wilson
400m — Nickisha Pryce
800m — Natoya Goule-Toppin, Kelly Ann Beckford
High Jump — Lamara Distin
Long Jump — Nia Robinson
Triple Jump — Shantae Foreman
