On a day when the Hungarian capital shimmered under summer heat, three Jamaican sprinters set the Gyulai István Memorial ablaze with podium-topping performances.
Bryan Levell, Ashanti Moore, and Kishane Thompson each claimed victory, propelling Jamaica’s sprinting legacy forward in spectacular fashion while personal bests and gritty showdowns unfolded across the track and field.
Levell enters sprinting’s rarefied air
Bryan Levell produced a moment of brilliance in the men’s 200m, stopping the clock at a blistering 19.69 seconds (-0.4m/s) — the third-fastest Jamaican, trailing only Usain Bolt’s 19.19 and Yohan Blake’s 19.26. The performance also ranked him third in the world this year, behind only Noah Lyles (19.63secs) and Kenneth Bednarek (19.67secs).
Levell’s surge down the home straight left South African star Wayde van Niekerk (20.07secs) and Benjamin Richardson (20.30secs) trailing, breaking the meeting record of 19.88 seconds set by Erriyon Knighton in 2022.
“I didn’t expect to run this fast, especially with how my body’s been feeling, but I trusted God and my coach,” Levell reflected. “The key was to stay focused and execute well, and I think we did that today.”
Moore’s grit and glory
Ashanti Moore, returning from injury earlier this year, claimed the women’s 200m crown in 22.31 seconds, equalling Nigeria’s Favour Ofili but edging her on the lean. Great Britain’s Daryll Neita was just behind in 22.37 seconds. The time marked a new personal best for Moore, improving on her previous 22.40 seconds.
“I’m honestly surprised and incredibly grateful — I give all the glory to God,” Moore said. “It was a close, competitive race, but I just stayed focused and ran my own race to the finish.”
Thompson powers through in the 100m
In the men’s 100m, Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson shrugged off a slow start to claim victory in 9.95 seconds (-0.4m/s). Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and South Africa’s Akani Simbine were both timed at 10.01 seconds for second and third. Jamaicans Ackeem Blake (10.04secs), Kadrian Goldson (10.08secs), and Rohan Watson (10.12secs) filled positions fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
“I came out today to work on some ‘battle techniques’, as I like to call them,” Thompson noted. “It didn’t feel great, but not bad either — just one of those days. Now, I’m heading to Worlds with a positive mindset, aiming to give my best and go for gold.”
Close calls and podium finishes
Tina Clayton, Jamaica’s national women’s 100m champion, narrowly missed victory in her event, clocking 10.99 seconds behind Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith (10.97secs). Shericka Jackson took third in 11.00 seconds, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, competing individually for the first time since June’s national trials, was fifth in 11.07 seconds.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Hansle Parchment continued his return to form, finishing second in 13.24 seconds — his third straight season’s best — just behind world leader Cordell Tinch of the USA (13.20secs). Orlando Bennett was fifth in 13.32 seconds.
Ackelia Smith secured second in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.67m, narrowly edged by American Claire Bryant (6.71m). In the men’s long jump, Carey McLeod placed fifth with 7.96m and Tajay Gayle seventh with 7.86m.
Battles for World Championship standards
In the men’s 400m, national record holder Rusheen McDonald clocked 45.12 seconds for fifth, still just shy of the 44.85 seconds qualifying standard for the World Championships in Tokyo. Sean Bailey, also bound for Worlds, finished eighth in 48.38 seconds. Jamaica will also be represented in the quarter-mile by defending champion Antonio Watson and Trials finalist Bovel McPherson.
A night of global brilliance
While Jamaica shone brightly, the meet also witnessed history beyond the Caribbean camp. Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis thrilled the crowd by breaking his 13th pole vault world record, soaring over 6.29 metres.
In Budapest, Jamaica left an indelible mark — a day defined by record-breaking speed, unwavering resilience, and the unmistakable presence of a nation whose sprinters continue to rewrite the script on the global stage.
