Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, the world leader in the 60m hurdles, has revealed her plans to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, from March 21-23.

The 22-year-old sprint hurdler, who won the Copernicus Cup in Poland on Sunday in 7.79 seconds, confirmed that she will now take a break from competing to begin her final preparations for the global championships. Nugent, who turned professional last year, is aiming to win her first senior global title on the international stage.

Nugent, a former University of Arkansas standout, dominated the 100m hurdles in 2024, setting a world-leading time of 12.24 seconds at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome last August. She then transitioned seamlessly into the 2025 indoor season, running a world-leading 7.75 seconds in France on February 13, marking her as a strong contender for the World Indoor title.

Her decision to compete in Nanjing makes her the only Jamaican athlete so far to confirm participation at the championships, as several of her compatriots weigh their options ahead of the 2025 outdoor season. In China, Nugent will likely face a stacked field, including Olympic champion Alia Armstrong of the United States and world record holder Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas. With her blistering start to the season, Nugent is one of the favourites for the gold medal, but she knows she will have to be at her very best to claim her first senior world title.

For now, the young hurdler will shift her focus to fine-tuning her form and strategy, ensuring she is at peak performance when she lines up in Nanjing. If her early-season dominance is any indication, Jamaica could have its next world champion in the making.