Jamaica’s World Athletics Indoor Championships campaign began with a sharp burst of momentum on Friday, as Kishane Thompson and Jordan Scott each powered to silver medals on the opening day of competition at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland.
Thompson surged to second place in the men’s 60 meters in a personal-best 6.45 seconds, while Scott climbed the podium in the men’s triple jump with a season’s-best 17.33 meters. For both men, the performances delivered their first World Indoor medals and immediately placed Jamaica among the early movers at the championships.
By the end of day one, Jamaica sat fourth in the medal standings with two silver medals, trailing only the United States, Ukraine, and Italy.
Thompson sprints into the spotlight
The men’s 60 meters began with Jamaica showing real depth.
All three Jamaican entrants, Thompson, Bryan Levell, and Ackeem Blake, advanced smoothly through the opening round. Levell took heat three in 6.53 seconds, Thompson controlled heat five in 6.56 seconds, and Blake booked his semi-final place by winning heat seven in 6.59 seconds.
The semi-finals, however, trimmed the field. Blake ran 6.55 seconds but finished fourth in his race and missed out on a place in the final. Thompson and Levell pressed on, with Levell recovering from a slow start to win the first semi-final in 6.53 seconds, while Thompson placed second in semi-final two in 6.47 seconds.
Then came the final.
Thompson delivered the run of his indoor career, clocking a personal-best 6.45 seconds to claim silver behind American Jordan Anthony, who won the title in a world-leading 6.41 seconds. Another American, Trayvon Bromell, matched Thompson’s time of 6.45 seconds and took bronze.
For Thompson, it was a major statement on one of athletics’ quickest stages.
Levell’s final ends in frustration
While Thompson celebrated a breakthrough medal, the last race ended in disappointment for Levell.
After progressing strongly through the earlier rounds, he pulled up in the final and crossed the line seventh in 7.69 seconds, bringing an unfortunate finish to what had promised to be an excellent outing.
Scott makes history in the triple jump
If Thompson’s silver supplied speed, Scott’s medal brought history.
The Jamaican triple jumper improved on his fourth-place finish from last year’s World Indoors, earning second place behind Italy’s Andy Diaz, who successfully defended his title with a world-leading 17.47 meters. Algeria’s Yasser Triki secured bronze with 17.30 meters.
Scott’s 17.33-meter effort not only earned him silver, but also gave Jamaica a landmark achievement in the event.
“I cannot say that I did not believe I could do it, but I never thought I could be so happy with this,” Scott said.
“Last summer, I had a great season with a lot of experience over the Diamond League events. It gave me huge confidence and understanding for how to cope with all these ups and downs.”
He also placed his achievement in a wider national context.
“Jamaica is raising its profile in the field events,” he said. “Being the first man from the country to win a medal in men’s triple jump at World Indoors is like making a little athletics history for your country.”
Mixed outcomes elsewhere for Jamaica
Elsewhere on the opening day, Jamaica’s results were more uneven.
Lamara Distin placed 10th in the women’s high jump final after clearing 1.85 meters. The title went to Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who won with 2.01 meters. Silver was shared in a rare three-way tie, with Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, Serbia’s Angelina Topic, and Ukraine’s Yuliia Levchenko all clearing 1.99 eters and producing identical jump series.
In the women’s 800 meters, Natoya Goule-Toppin emerged as Jamaica’s lone semi-finalist after finishing second in her heat in 2:01.32 minutes. Kelly-Ann Beckford, however, did not advance after placing fourth in her heat in 2:04.09 minutes.
Navasky Anderson also moved on in the men’s 800 meters, advancing as one of the fastest losers after finishing third in his opening-round race in 1:46.34 minutes. He was set to contest semi-final one on Saturday.
Jamaica, meanwhile, will have no presence in the men’s 400-meter final. Delano Kennedy exited in the first round with 47.02 seconds, while Reheem Hayles advanced one step further but fell in the semi-finals with 46.87 seconds.
Early rewards, bigger ambitions ahead
Still, the day belonged to Thompson and Scott.
One delivered a burst of pure sprinting class, the other a history-making leap, and together they gave Jamaica a strong start at a global championship where every early medal matters. Their silver medals did more than open the country’s account, they signaled that Jamaica had arrived in Torun with both range and ambition.
