‘Respect my name’

“Put some respect pon mi name!” shouted Jamaica’s newest 100m world champion Oblique Seville as he led the way with gold on day two at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships at the Japan National Stadium on Sunday.

Jamaica picked up its first medals at the World Championships as Seville and fellow sprinters Kishane Thompson and Tina Clayton all finished on the podium in their events.

In an intense seven minutes at the Japan National Stadium, Jamaican fans at home, those in Tokyo and others all across the world bore witness to the finals of both the women’s 100m and the men’s 100m.

The highlight of the night was the men’s final as Seville and Thompson raced across the line for a 1-2 finish, with Seville winning in a new personal best (PB) of 9.77 seconds, and Thompson placing second in 10.82.

They finished ahead of dethroned champion Noah Lyles of Team USA, who was third in 10.89.

Speaking after his triumph on the track, Seville praised the quality of Thompson and Lyles, who, he said, pushed him to run his new PB.

“It was a good run today because these two athletes pushed me to run a personal best, and to come out here and run 9.77 is something amazing,” he said.

“In Japan is actually where I had my début, and to actually start over again in Japan, and to actually get a medal is something great for me.”

Chief among the Jamaican supporters in the stands was retired sprint icon and 100m world record holder Usain Bolt, who had predicted a 1-2 finish for Jamaica ahead of the championships.

With the win, Jamaica also becomes the third nation to achieve a 1-2 finish in the World Championships men’s 100m final, following the United States and Canada.

CLAYTON TAKES SILVER

Rising starlet Tina Clayton was the toast of the ball in the women’s 100m as she secured her first-ever global medal, finishing second in a new personal best of 10.76 seconds.

She finished behind Team USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who took the title in a championship record 10.61. St Lucia’s Julien Alfred was third in 10.84.

Shericka Jackson, however, was just outside the podium places in fourth, 10.88, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in her final individual race, was sixth in 11.03.

Speaking after the race, Clayton said she was not focused on a podium finish, but rather, had her mind set on her race execution.

“My main focus was to execute,” she said. “If I’m being honest, a silver medal wasn’t in my thoughts but I did [it], so I’m really grateful.”

Clayton credited the unwavering support of her mother, Tishawna Pinnock; her twin sister, Tia Clayton; and the support of the MVP Track Club for her success.

“Shout out to my mother. She’s always behind me and speaks life into me. Probably if it wasn’t for her, I would have given up already,” she said.

“But it’s all designed. She was in the stands to witness, so I’m very grateful. This is now a stepping stone for me to achieve bigger goals.”

Jamaica was well represented across the day two schedule with its share of highs and lows.

In the men’s and women’s 400m heats, Jamaica qualified six of its seven athletes entered for the semi-finals.

On the men’s side, Rusheen McDonald, Delano Kennedy and Bovel McPherson all booked their spots in the next round from their individual heats.

World champion Antonio Watson, however, failed to advance after an unusually disappointing run, fading to eighth in his heat.

The women’s event was smooth sailing for the island on the other hand, as Nickisha Pryce, Stacey-Ann Williams and Dejanea Oakley all secured their passage to the next round in comfortable fashion.

Jamaica was also dominant in the women’s sprint hurdles, as its three competitors all advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles.

In the absence of national champion Megan Tapper, who withdrew from the competition due to injury, reigning world champion Danielle Williams led the Jamaicans through to qualification as she advanced with the fastest time of 12.40.

Ackera Nugent, 12.54, and Amoi Brown, 12.82, were also comfortable in qualifying.

MIXED RESULTS

There were mixed results in the men’s high jump qualification, as only one of Jamaica’s two entrants was able to advance to the final.

Romaine Beckford just sneaked into the final with his best effort of 2.25 metres, while Raymond Richards failed to advance with a best effort of 2.16, far from his usual best.

Samantha Hall made history as she became the first Jamaican woman to compete in the final of the women’s discus throw.

She placed 12th overall, with a distance of 60.69 metre across her three attempts.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com