Day 1 of the Jamaica Trials opened with strong performances across the board, as athletes compete for places on the national team heading to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. The event is being held at the National Stadium in Kingston, where warm conditions and light winds greeted sprinters, hurdlers, and middle-distance runners in the preliminary rounds.

In the men’s 100 metres, all the top contenders advanced to the next round. Bryan Levell of Uptimum led the way with a time of 9.99 seconds into a -0.5 m/s headwind, hitting the World Championships qualifying standard. Ackeem Blake of Dynamic Speed Track Club posted 10.07 (0.0), while MVP’s Kishane Thompson ran 10.12 (-1.3). Oblique Seville from Racers Track Club also clocked 10.12 (-0.9), showing no signs of trouble in his season opener at Trials.

The women’s 100 metres saw Shericka Jackson of MVP Track Club secure her spot with a time of 11.20 (-1.4). Tia Clayton followed with 11.21 (-2.6), and her twin sister Tina Clayton ran 11.27 (-2.2). Jodean Williams of Sprintec clocked 11.31 (-3.0), while five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, running in her final Jamaica Trials, comfortably qualified with 11.33 (-2.1).

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Andrenette Knight of Puma delivered the fastest time of the day at 54.63, meeting the qualifying standard for Tokyo 2025. Rushell Clayton of Elite Performance followed with 55.77, while Shiann Salmon of Sprintec advanced in 55.90.

On the men’s side, Assinie Wilson of Titans Track Club led the 400m hurdles qualifiers with 49.27. Roshawn Clarke, the 2023 World Championships finalist, cruised through in 49.99. Malik James-King, also of Titans, secured his place with 50.74.

In the women’s 800 metres, Kelly Ann Beckford of MVP Track Club topped the field with 2:01.03. Veteran Natoya Goule-Toppin, representing Adidas, ran 2:02.61 to move on comfortably. Adelle Tracey of Hoka completed the trio of qualifiers with 2:03.57.