A night of big emotions and big performances saw Jamaica’s top sprinters battle for national titles in the women’s and men’s 100m. Read on to learn more.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wasn’t crowned national champion in the women’s 100m at the 2025 Jamaican National Athletics Championships on Friday, 27 June, but if the fervent support of her hometown crowd was any clue, she was almost certainly crowned the people’s champion.
Competing in what is likely her final national championships at the tail end of a long and illustrious sprinting career, Fraser-Pryce stepped into the blocks for one final time at Kingston’s National Stadium.
Facing off against the likes of Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton and Shericka Jackson, Fraser-Pryce was confronted with a monumental task if she wished to keep her hopes of a final World Athletics Championships appearance alive.
With the pressure on, she ran just the race needed, finishing third behind winner Tina Clayton and runner-up Shericka Jackson. The crowd erupted, greeting both their new champion and spirit legend with enthusiasm and glee.
“I tried not to be too emotional and focus on my race, but I felt the love and I felt the support, and I’m truly grateful for it,” Fraser-Pryce told Jamaican broadcasters.
Clayton was the real star of the evening, however, bolting out of the blocks to hold off the hard-charging duo of Fraser-Pryce and Jackson. She crossed the line in a time of 10.81 seconds to lay claim to the highly coveted national title in the women’s 100m.
Jackson crossed the line second in a time of 10.88 seconds, followed by Fraser-Pryce in 10.91 seconds. Tina Clayton’s sister, Tia, was amongst the top three until any injury ended her race prematurely.
As if the excitement of the women’s 100m wasn’t enough, Jamaica’s fastest men soon arrived at the track for their own test of speed and fortitude.
Olympic Games Paris 2024 silver medallist Kishane Thompson headlined the final, living up to his billing as the man to beat, clocking 9.75 seconds to take his second consecutive national title over outdoor athletics’ shortest distance.
Oblique Seville was next across the line in a time of 9.83 seconds, followed closely by Ackeem Blake, who clocked 9.88 seconds.
All six runners, male and female, will now have a few months to rest and fine-tune their form ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan from 13-21 September.
