In the Class I Boys event, the main contenders will be Kingston College’s Shaemar Uter, St. Jago’s Gregory Prince and Edwin Allen’s Delano Kennedy.
Prince, who won the event at Central Champs last month, was the fastest qualifier to the final with 46.60. Kennedy, who ran 46.97 to win at last month’s Carifta Trials, ran a personal best 46.66 to finish second behind Prince in his semi-final. Uter, who represented Jamaica at the World Junior Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, last year, won his semi-final comfortably in 47.10.
Kingston College is expected to score big in the Class II 400m with Marcinho Rose looking like the favorite for gold. Rose ran an easy 49.05 in his semi-final to be the fastest qualifier.
His teammate Tahj-Marques White only ran 50.74 for third in his semi-final but is expected to feature prominently in the final as he entered the championships with the fastest time of any Class II boy this year with 48.35 which he ran at a Corporate Area Development meet last month. He also ran 48.36 to win the Under-17 Boys 400m at the Carifta Trials ahead of Rose.
Also expected to be in the mix is Central Champs champion Antonio Powell of Edwin Allen who qualified second fastest with 49.30.
Jamaica College’s Samuel Creary (50.85), Excelsior’s Demarco Bennett (50.83) and Manchester’s Troydian Flemmings (50.96) are expected to battle it out for the Class III title.
The Girls Class I event is expected to be a hot contest between Clarendon College’s Class II champion from 2021, Dejanea Oakley, who qualified fastest with 52.77, St. Jago’s Safhia Hinds (53.65) and Vere Technical’s Kaylia Kelly (53.86).
Ferncourt’s Abigail Campbell is a big favorite to add to her Class III title from 2021 in the Class II final after she ran 53.94 to qualify fastest for the final, the only girl to go below 54 seconds. Her main challengers are expected to be Hydel’s Alliah Baker (54.48) and Lacovia’s Rasheika Byfield (54.61).
Lacovia’s Carifta Trials Under-17 400m champion Sabrina Dockery (55.59) and the Holmwood Technical duo of Abriana Wright (56.10) and Rosalee Gallimore (55.84) are expected to battle it out in Class III.
James, in tough conditions, ran 44.78 to win the Men’s 400m ahead of Botswana’s Isaac Makwala (45.45) and Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor (45.52).
Oslo marks James’ second straight win on the Diamond League circuit after producing a 44.54 effort to win in Rome on June 6th.
2019 World Championships silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 19.04m for fourth in the Women’s shot put. The USA’s Chase Ealey threw a personal best 20.13m to win ahead of the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder (19.46m) and Portugal’s Auriol Dongmo (19.43m).
Jamaican Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson got his indoor season off to a winning start with a 60m victory at the Astana Indoor Meet for Amin Tuyakov Prizes – the opening World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of the year – in the Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Lacovia’s Rosean Smith was the fastest in Tuesday’s heats of the Class One Boys 100m on day one of the 2025 ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston.
LaFond produced 14.37m in the fifth round to win ahead of Jamaican two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts (14.36m) and American Tori Franklin (13.87m).
LaFond made history in March when she became the first Dominican to win gold at a World Athletics Championships. She produced a national record 15.01m to take top spot at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino remained unbeaten this season with 50.27 to win ahead of World 800m champion Mary Moraa (50.56) and American Alexis Holmes (50.73).
2011 World champion Kirani James was second in the men's equivalent in a season's best 44.85 behind American 2022 World champion Michael Norman Jr who won in 44.53. Vernon Norwood was third in 44.86.
World Championship finalist and world U-20 record holder Roshawn Clarke opened his season in the 400m hurdles with a respectable 48.11 to finish second behind American Rai Benjamin who ran a world leading 46.64. World Championship silver medallist Kyron McMaster was third in 48.51.
Andrenette Knight ran a season’s best 54.69 for second in the women’s equivalent behind American Anna Cockrell who ran a season’s best of her own with 53.75. Cassandra Tate was third in 55.02.
On Friday's day one, Jamaica's Roje Stona threw 66.93m to win the men's discus ahead of Chile's Claudio Romero (64.12m) and the USA's Brian Williams (63.36m).
The 32-year-old McPherson booked her place on Jamaica’s team to this summer’s Tokyo Olympics when she won the quarter-mile in 49.61s that made her the fifth-fastest woman in the world this year. It was also the first time in eight years that she was dipping under 50 seconds in the event.
Not too far behind was newcomer Candice McLeod, who was making her first Olympic team, with yet another personal-best time of 49.91s. Roneisha McGregor also ran a personal best of 50.02 for third and will also race as an individual in Tokyo.
On a morning when several other athletes produced lifetime bests, it was McPherson’s performance that perhaps the most surprising. Before Sunday, the last time she broke 50 seconds for the 400m was in 2013 when she ran a then-personal best of 49.92 in Monaco. She also ran 49.99 in the final of the 400m at the World Championships that year that won the bronze medal.
Since then, the closest she has come was in 2016 when she ran 50.04 at the national stadium in Kingston in July.
This past offseason, she said, she made changes. She began working on her speed and focusing on her health more than she had before. The work to get her speed up, have seen her times have come down.
Since 2015, McPherson has had respective 200m season-best times of 23.19, 23.12, 23.12, 23.02 and 24.12. This year, her best time over 200m is 22.90.
“The fact that I am faster contributed to today’s (Sunday) performance,” she told Sportsmax. TV.
“Also, I have been working on my technique which has improved a lot. There are a lot of things that contributed to today’s (Sunday) performance or even me being a faster Stephenie. I live like a sprinter and I have gained a lot of weight and strength in the gym. So that’s one of the reasons why I am faster.”
She also revealed that a specific focus on avoiding injury has helped her make the kind of progress she has been denied for such a long time.
“The fact that I was able to stay healthy. That was my biggest problem. I was able to stay healthy this year because I went to the doctor for monthly evaluations,” she said, indicating that the extra effort allowed everything to come together nicely.
“The race plan was to just run even 200s and the fact that I am faster I was able to do that,” she said while revealing that during Sunday’s final she was not aware of anyone else in the race.
“At no point in the race did I see or feel anyone, I was so focused on my lane,” she said.
She closed by saying she had no intention to rest on her laurels before the Olympics.
“There is still a lot of work to do and I still need to get faster,” she said.
The men's 400m was equally dramatic if short on quality as Sean Bailey held on for a close victory in 45.03 ahead of Christopher Taylor 45.13 and Karayme Bartley 45.17.
Demish Gaye, the previous national champion finished fourth in 45.30.
Lyston produced one of the day’s most impressive performances, winning the college 100m in 10.84, a time that would’ve been a new personal best if not for a 2.2 m/s tail wind.
Minnesota’s Odell Frye (11.19) and Victory Godah (11.28) were second and third.
This was Lyston’s second time already this season going sub-11 seconds. At the Battle of the Bayou on March 30, she turned heads with an also wind-aided 10.87 (2.6m/s).
The former St. Jago High and Hydel High standout also, earlier this season, became the SEC and NCAA Indoor 60m champion with times of 7.08 and 7.03, respectively.
Lyston then returned to win the 200m in 22.35 (2.8m/s) ahead of Southern Miss’s Jada McDougle (23.061) and LSU’s Aniyah Bigam (23.064).
Trinidadian Minnesota junior Devin Augustine was also impressive in winning the sprint double.
He first won the 100m in 10.02 (2.2 m/s) ahead of LSU’s Da’Marcus Fleming (10.03) and 2024 Carifta Games U-20 100m silver medallist Jaiden Reid (10.12).
Augustine then ran 20.98 into a -3.0 m/s wind to win the 200m ahead of teammate Charles Godfred (21.41) and Meridan Community College’s Keon Buck (21.46).
Elsewhere on Saturday, Bahamian 400m legend Steven Gardiner produced 44.45 to comfortably win his 400m season opener ahead of American Vernon Norwood (44.94) and British World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith (45.00).
The former Hydel High and St. Jago High athlete won ahead of Georgia’s Kaila Jackson, who wasn’t far behind in second with 10.95, and LSU’s Thelma Davies who ran 11.01 in third.
She then ran 22.37 for fourth in the 200m final. Ole Miss’s McKenzie Long ran 22.03 for gold ahead of South Carolina’s JaMeesia Ford (22.11) and LSU’s Thelma Davies (22.17).
Earlier, she helped LSU take bronze in the women’s 4x100m in 42.49 behind Ole Miss (42.47) and Tennessee (42.42).
The 19-year-old Lyston ran wind assisted times of 10.87 and 10.84 earlier this season. She also claimed the indoor 60m titles at both the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships in February and March.
In the men’s 100m final, Bahamian Florida junior Wanya McCoy ran a personal best 10.02 for second behind LSU’s Godson Oghenebrume who successfully defended his title in 9.99. Tennessee’s T’Mars McCallum ran 10.03 in third.
McCoy also ran a personal best 19.93 for second in the 200m behind Alabama’s Tarsis Orogot who ran a meet record 19.75 to take gold. Auburn’s Makanakaishe Charamba ran 20.00 for third
The 400m saw reigning Jamaican national champion Nickisha Pryce move to second all-time for Jamaica in the event with a brilliant 49.32 to win gold. Kaylyn Brown (49.47) and Amber Anning (49.51) took second and third to complete an Arkansas 1-2-3.
This is just a day after Pryce ran her previous personal best 49.72 to advance to the final.
Pryce's time is just outside of Lorraine Fenton's Jamaican record 49.30 set back in 2002.
Barbadian Tennessee senior Rasheeme Griffith ran 49.24 for third in the men’s 400m hurdles final behind Alabama’s Chris Robinson (48.43) and Tennessee’s Clement Ducos (47.69).
The women’s event saw Jamaican Ole Miss sophomore Gabrielle Matthews run a personal best 55.12 to win ahead of Georgia’s Dominique Mustin (55.60) and LSU’s Shani’a Bellamy (56.40).
The LSU sophomore, who ran 22.31 on Thursday to secure her spot in the 200m final, came back a day later to run 11.09 to be the joint-fastest qualifier for Saturday’s final alongside collegiate leader Jacious Sears of Tennessee.
Bahamian Florida junior Wanya McCoy and Jamaican Georgia freshman Jehlani Gordon advanced to the men’s 100m final as the second and ninth fastest qualifiers with 10.09 and 10.17, respectively.
The women’s 400m prelims saw Arkansas senior Nickisha Pryce become the eighth-fastest Jamaican ever in the event.
Pryce, who is Jamaica’s reigning national champion, ran a personal best and collegiate leading 49.72 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier ahead of teammate Kaylyn Brown who ran 49.86.
LSU sophomore Jahiem Stern produced 13.45 to advance to the final of the 110m hurdles.
In the field, the Jamaican Arkansas pair of Romaine Beckford and Wayne Pinnock won gold in the high jump and long jump, respectively.
Beckford had a best clearance of 2.22m to win ahead of LSU’s Kuda Chadenga (2.19m) and Ole Miss’s Arvesta Troupe (2.14m).
Pinnock, a sliver medalist at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, jumped 8.09m to successfully defend his SEC title.
Georgia’s Micah Larry produced 7.80m for second while Florida’s Caleb Foster was third with the same distance.
In a turn of bad luck, Watkin did not start in Heat 1, marking a disappointing beginning for the Jamaican contingent.
St. Lucia's Michael Joseph put forth a commendable effort in Heat 2, finishing fourth with a time of 45.64 seconds. Despite his valiant performance, Joseph fell short of advancing to the next round.
Jamaica’s Sean Bailey, competing in Heat 4, did not finish the race, adding to the series of setbacks. Bailey's race ended abruptly, further contributing to the run of unfortunate circumstances faced by the group in this event.
In contrast, Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands showed her steel in the women's 200m repechage round, successfully advancing to the semifinals.
Competing in Heat 1, Hodge delivered a strong performance, finishing in second place with a time of 22.94 seconds. Her impressive run ranked her fourth overall among all competitors in the repechage round, securing her a spot in the semifinals and bringing hope and pride to BVI.
Canada’s Jacqueline Madogo had the fastest qualifying time of 22.58 seconds, setting a new personal best in the process.
As the competition progresses, Caribbean athletes like Hodge continue to inspire with their performances, despite the challenges faced by their counterparts in other events. The semifinals promise to be an exciting and competitive stage, where Hodge will look to further her success and potentially bring home a medal for the British Virgin Islands.
Maloney, an 800m gold medallist at the NACAC U-23 Championships in 2021, ran 1:23.80 to win ahead of Americans Sadi Henderson (1:27.81) and Ajee Wilson (1:27.86).
The 25-year-old is coming off an excellent season indoors that included 800m wins at the Arkansas Invitational on January 12, Razorback Invitational on January 27 and the Tyson Invitational on February 10.
Also among the winners on Saturday were Bajan two-time World Championships 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams, Jamaican sprint hurdler Tyler Mason and Bahamian quarter miler Alonzo Russell.
Williams produced 22.82 to take the women’s 200m ahead of Denmark’s Ida Karstoft (23.010 and American Kynnedy Flannel (23.32).
Mason took the win in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 13.57. American Eric Edwards was second in 13.60 while Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi was third in 13.63.
Russell ran a season’s best 45.35 to win the men’s 400m ahead of Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic (45.36) and Bahamian Wendell Miller (46.00).
World Indoor 60m bronze medallist Ackeem Blake ran 10.28 to finish second in the men’s 100m, just behind American Courtney Lindsey who ran the same time as Blake. Another Jamaican, Andre Ewers, ran 10.43 to finish third.
In the field, 2019 World Championships silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.72m for third in the women’s shot put behind American Maggie Ewen (18.95m) and Chase Jackson (19.88m).
Jamaican Chanice Porter jumped 6.36m for second in the women’s long jump. The USA’s Taliyah Brooks narrowly won the event with 6.38m while Puerto Rico’s Alysbeth Felix-Boyer was third with a season’s best 6.28m.
Maloney, unbeaten so far this season in the 800m both indoors and outdoors, showed her class on Friday in the one lap event, speeding to a new personal best and national record 50.75 to take top spot.
Her time was also an Arkansas Twilight record, bettering Britton Wilson’s 50.97 set in 2022.
American Kendall Baisden was way behind in second in 52.91 while Sudan’s Hiba Saeed was third in 53.45.
2023 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion and world championship finalist in the sprint hurdles, Ackera Nugent, tried her hand successfully at the 200m on Friday. She ran a season’s best 23.12 to win ahead of 400m podium finishers Hiba Saeed (23.49) and Kendall Baisden (23.58).
Phillip Lemonious, who also took sprint hurdles gold at the NCAA Championships last year, ran a season’s best 13.52 to win the event on Friday ahead of Arkansas’s Elijah Morris (13.70) and Brevin Sims (13.73).
Paulino, known for her powerful and controlled running style, took command of the race from the start. She maintained her composure through the first 300m and then unleashed a devastating kick down the home stretch, pulling away from a world-class field to claim her first Olympic title. Her time of 48.17 seconds broke the long-standing Olympic record of 48.25 seconds, set by Marie-José Pérec at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Trailing Paulino was Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser, who clocked a season-best 48.53 seconds to take the silver medal. Naser, who has been gradually returning to her best form after a few challenging seasons, showed glimpses of the brilliance that saw her run the third-fastest time in history, 48.14 seconds, at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
The bronze medal went to Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland, who crossed the line in 48.98 seconds, marking her as the third woman in the race to break the 49-second barrier—a testament to the extraordinary quality of the competition.
The race was exceptional from start to finish, with all eight finalists clocking sub-50-second times. Ireland’s rising star, Rhasidat Adeleke, finished fourth in 49.28 seconds, just a fraction ahead of Great Britain's Amber Anning, who set a new personal best of 49.29 seconds. Alexis Holmes of the USA also set a lifetime best, finishing sixth in 49.77 seconds, while Sada Williams of Barbados was seventh in 49.83 seconds. Norway's Henriette Jaeger rounded out the field, finishing eighth in 49.96 seconds.
Paulino’s victory adds another prestigious trophy to her growing collection, which already includes two World Championship silver medals. Her performance in Paris not only cements her legacy but also raises the bar for future generations of 400m runners.
Boling, who finished second behind Great Britain's Matthew Hudson Smith, spoke to Sportsmax.TV about his first-time experience in Jamaica and the atmosphere that fueled his performance.
"Yea, I loved the crowd. I like my little intro, everyone cheered and it got me hyped," Boling shared. "I was in the zone and I had to beat my chest a little bit."
Despite his impressive run, Boling indicated that he plans to rest before the upcoming USA trials, hinting at a potential return to Jamaica in the future. "I’d love to come back," he mentioned, reflecting on the lively reception he received from the Jamaican fans.
Regarding his overall season and the challenge of competing in both the 200m and 400m events, Boling expressed satisfaction with his progress, hinting that he could deliver something special at the USA Olympic trials in late June. "I think it’s been going great; the 400m and the 200m seems to be the way I’m heading this year," Boling stated. "I’ve run 10.06, 20.03 and 44.98 so far so I think I’m getting in good shape and getting ready to bust something big out at trials."
Acknowledging the difficulty of taking on the 200m/400m challenge, Boling maintained a positive outlook. "It’s pretty tough but I’m young I’ll recover quick," he remarked with a big smile, demonstrating his determination and optimism for the upcoming competitions.
The race was one for the history books, with the first five finishers all breaking the 44-second barrier in what has become one of the fastest 400m races ever. The gold medal was claimed by the USA’s Quincy Hall, who edged out Hudson-Smith with a lifetime best of 43.40 seconds. Muzala Samukonga of Zimbabwe secured the bronze with a national record of 43.74 seconds, just ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who also set a national record and personal best of 43.78 seconds. Kirani James of Grenada, the 2012 Olympic champion, finished fifth in 43.87 seconds, underscoring the extraordinary quality of the race.
In the aftermath of his remarkable achievement, Hudson-Smith took to social media to explain the significance of the Jamaican flag in his celebration. The gesture, he revealed, was a heartfelt tribute to his Jamaican heritage and, in particular, to his grandmothers, both of whom are Jamaican.
“I haven’t seen both my grandmothers who are Jamaican in a while, so I held the Jamaican flag as an ‘I love you’ to them. They are my biggest supporters, along with my mum who was born in Jamaica. I just wanted to represent my family,” Hudson-Smith shared.
The 29-year-old sprinter’s homage to his Jamaican roots resonated deeply with his fans and family alike, as he further added, “I hope they picked up on the gesture so when I get back to the UK, I can get some more oxtail.”
Hudson-Smith’s victory and his subsequent tribute to his heritage highlight the profound connection many athletes feel to their cultural backgrounds, even as they compete on the world’s biggest stage. His silver medal win not only cements his place as one of Europe’s finest sprinters but also as a proud ambassador of his rich Jamaican lineage.
The 31-year-old had a relatively fast first 300m before digging in for the last 100m to win in 44.84, holding off the fast-finishing Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic who ran a season’s best 44.93 in second.
Norway’s Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen ran 45.07 in third.
This is the fifth time that McDonald has dipped below 45 seconds this season, with all coming after the Jamaican National Championships in June where he didn’t report for his semi-final.
McDonald was a member of the Jamaican 4x400 quartet at the World Championships in Budapest.
Lower case counts across the UK and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confirmation that the next stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown was on track last week meant that 2000 fans were allowed to attend the Wanda Diamond League opener in Gateshead.
In cold wet conditions, McPherson, the 4x400m relay Olympic silver medallist, had to settle for second behind the United States’ Kendal Ellis who crossed the line in 51.86. Mcpherson, who finished second in 51.96, however, admitted that conditions were difficult but turned also her attention to other things.
“I came out here just to see where I'm at but it wasn't good conditions to run in. I am grateful to come out here and finish injury-free,” McPherson said.
“To see people back in the stands is exciting and it's always good to have people to cheer you on.”
It was another Jamaican, Shanieka Ricketts, who stole the show after winning the women’s triple jump with a leap of 14.40m.
McPherson ran a season-best 50.15 to win the second heat as the cast of Caribbean women stamped their class on the opening round. Also through was Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo who won her heat in 51.10, after literally jogging the last 80m.
Also enjoying safe passage through to the next round were Olympic silver medallist Marileidy Paulino, who was also impressive while winning her heat in 50.76. Her compatriot, Fiordaliza Cofil, who was also impressive while winning her heat in 51.19.
Sada Williams of Barbados cruised to victory in her heat in 51.05. Aliyah Abrams of Guyana was also an automatic qualifier after finishing second in her heat in 51.98. Jamaican champion Candice McLeod eased up and finished second in her heat clocking 50.76 to automatically qualify for the next round.
A tired-looking Charokee Young, who finished fourth in her heat, qualified as one of the fastest losers while Puerto Rico’s Gabby Scott and Cuba’s Roxana Gomez are also through to the next round.
It was only her second race of the season indoors after opening her season on February 11 with a 52.82 clocking at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetville.
McPherson, 400m bronze medallist at the 2013 Moscow World Championships, finished ahead of Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands who ran 51.49 and Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic who ran 52.09.
Two other Jamaicans, Roniesha McGregor and Janieve Russell, finished fourth and sixth in 52.32 and 52.53, respectively.
The 26-year-old Bahamian has been the best 200/400m sprinter in the world over the past two seasons, has requested an adjustment to the schedule that would allow her to attempt the double, something they have done to accommodate Americans Michael Johnson and Allyson Felix as well as French track icon Marie Jose Perec.
However, to date, the Bahamian and her Olympic committee have heard nothing to suggest that the IOC will honour her request.
“We have made an appeal to have the schedule changed. We’ve not received a positive response as yet, but we remain hopeful that they would take another look at it because it means so much to us and it means so much to Shaunae Miller-Uibo,” said Bahamas Olympic Committee President Romell Knowles while speaking with the Bahamas Guardian.
“To come from such a small island and to get an opportunity to be among the best in the world in both the 200 and 400 meters is just phenomenal. The precedence has already been set and we would just like to be given that opportunity. It means so much to a little country like ours that has produced such great athletes.”
Meanwhile, Miller-Uibo, for now, seems resigned to the possibility that she will have to drop one of her events.
“As it is now, the schedule isn’t set up for me to do two events, so I would have to choose one event and we’re leaning more toward the 200 meters seeing that we already have the 400 meters title,” Miller-Uibo told the Bahamas Guardian.
“We wanted to do both – I wanted to go after the 200 metres title and also wanted to defend my 400 meters title, but the way the schedule is set up, it would be difficult to do both. It’s been that way for a few years now. When they didn’t change the schedule, we had to make some decisions and right now, we’re leaning toward the 200. Nothing is finalized as yet, but that’s the way it is right now.”
Only three athletes have ever won the 200/400m double at the Olympic Games – Johnson and Perec and Valerie Brisco-Hooks.
