Jamaica's Yanique Thompson delivered a standout performance at the ISTAF Berlin Meeting in Germany on Sunday, claiming victory in the women's 100m hurdles with an impressive time of 12.73 seconds. Thompson led a Jamaican 1-2 finish, as compatriot Britany Anderson secured second place with a time of 12.89 seconds. The pair dominated the race, leaving Germany's Marlene Meier, who clocked a personal best of 12.93 seconds, to settle for third.

Thompson's victory is a significant achievement as she continues to build momentum in her hurdling career, reaffirming Jamaica's strength in the sprint hurdles on the international stage.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Jamaica's Omar McLeod followed up his third-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome on Friday with another third-place finish in Berlin. McLeod, the 2016 Olympic champion, crossed the line in 13.28 seconds, behind American Grant Holloway, who won in 13.14 seconds, and France's Rachid Muratake, who clocked 13.21 seconds.

Additionally, Shafiqua Maloney set a new lifetime best and national record in the rarely run women's 600m, finishing second in a fiercely competitive race. Maloney's time of 1:22.98 shattered her previous personal best and established a new benchmark for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Kenya's Mary Moraa took the win in 1:21.63, while Germany's Alica Schmidt completed the podium in third with a time of 1:24.88.

The ISTAF Berlin Meeting once again proved to be a successful outing for Jamaican athletes, showcasing their talent and determination on the international stage.

Winning her second national title was like a miracle for Megan Tapper who was the surprise winner on Sunday morning, the final day of the 2021 Jamaica National Championships to select a team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

Running in lane eight, Tapper upset pre-race favourites Britany Anderson and Danielle Williams to take top spot in a season-best 12.68. Yanique Thompson, the Commonwealth Games bronze medalist ran 12.73, a season-best for second place while Anderson was third in 12.75.

“It was like experiencing a miracle right in front of my face,” she said after realizing she had crossed the line first. “I expected it but it is a different feeling when it actually happens.”

Tapper was not in the best of form coming in having run times ranging from 12.87-13.72 in eight races heading into the championships. However, in the semi-finals, she ran a season-best 12.86 for second place in her semifinal that was won by Anderson in 12.65.

She revealed afterwards that patience was the key to her success and understanding what works for her.

“I just had to understand that it takes a while to get into the groove, getting into running to get my mindset right,” she explained afterwards.

“I was patient, my coach and my husband were patient with me and they kept me motivated and at the end of the day I asked God to show up for me and he did and I am grateful.”

She believes running in the outside lane actually helped her avoid the intense battle for places that was unfolding in the lanes inside her.

“I was on the end. I was in lane eight and I guess that worked in my favour,” she said.

“Before I went out, my coach and husband told me to stay focused and to just execute. Once I executed a proper race I would have been close to the top or at the top and that’s what I did.”

Now that she has secured a place on the team to Tokyo Tapper says she knows she has work to do to be ready for competition in Japan.

“I need to remain focused and realize that the job isn’t finished and it is going to take a little than what I had today,” she said.