The 2025 Gibson-McCook Relays delivered a thrilling display of sprinting talent at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, with twin sisters Tina and Tia Clayton clocking impressive, albeit wind-aided, times in the women’s 60m dash. The event marked the final meet before the stadium track undergoes resurfacing in preparation for the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships next month and the highly anticipated opening of the Grand Slam Track series in April.
With an apparent eye on the World Indoor Championships next month, the Clayton twins laid down markers in dominant fashion, each claiming victories in their respective sections.
In Section A, Tina Clayton, a two-time World U20 100m champion, powered to victory in 7.04 seconds, showing sharp early-season form. Ashanti Moore followed in second place with 7.18, while sprint hurdler Amoi Brown took third in 7.22. However, the trailing wind of 2.2m/s was slightly above the allowable limit, making the times ineligible for record purposes.
The wind played an even greater role in Section B, where Tia Clayton, a finalist in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, stormed to a commanding victory in 7.02 seconds. She finished well ahead of Shashalee Forbes (7.12) and Natasha Morrison (7.14). The wind reading in this section was a gusty 2.6m/s, further nullifying the times for official qualification purposes. Despite this, the overall results placed Tia as the fastest competitor of the event, followed closely by Tina, with Forbes rounding out the top three.
The men’s 60m dash saw Julian Forte emerge as the fastest sprinter of the day, clocking 6.48 seconds in Section C. The talented but oft-injured sprinter demonstrated his raw speed, comfortably defeating Nishion Ebanks, who clocked 6.55 for second overall, while rising prospect Gary Card secured third place with 6.57.
The event was contested across three sections. In Section A, former national champion Tyquendo Tracey claimed victory in 6.61, with Junior Harris (6.66) and Barbados’ Mikish Compton (6.69) finishing second and third, respectively.
Section B saw a nail-biting finish, with Card narrowly edging out Shamar Ramsay of the United States. Both athletes were credited with 6.57, but electronic timing revealed that Card finished in 6.562 compared to Ramsay’s 6.568. Rasheed Foster claimed third place in 6.65.
Section C proved to be the most competitive, with Forte dominating in 6.48, followed by Ebanks (6.55) and Javari Thomas (6.58). The struggles of 2023 National 100m champion Rohan Watson continued as he finished fourth in 6.60, failing to make a significant impact on the event.
With the National Stadium set to receive a much-needed facelift ahead of the crucial track season, the performances at the Gibson-McCook Relays provided valuable insight into the early-season form of some of Jamaica’s premier sprinters. The Clayton twins, in particular, look primed for a strong showing at the World Indoor Championships, and the men’s 60m showcased both seasoned competitors and rising talents eager to make their mark on the international stage.