Oblique Seville staked his claim as successor to Usain Bolt by winning the 100 metres, in doing so edging his more favoured compatriot Kishane Thompson into silver medal position, in the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo. Jamaica, with six gold medals, came third behind only the all-conquering USA and Kenya. With prodigy Bryan Levell taking second-place to Noah Lyles in the 200 metres the island-country maintained its strong tradition of success in the men’s sprint events. For good measure Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason came second and third respectively in the 110 metres hurdles.
Not that Jamaica’s women were outshaded. Tina Clayton took silver in the 100 metres and Shericka Jackson bronze in the 200 metres – each behind the invincible Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA). The relay teams finished second to the U.S.A. in both the 4 x 400 metres with Dejanea Oakley, Stacy Ann Williams, Andrinette Knight and Nikisha Pryce and the 4 x 100 metres in which popular favourite Shelly-Ann Frazer Pryce shared the honours with Tia and Tina Clayton, and Jonielle Smith. In the field Tajay Gayle won silver in the long-jump.
From the Eastern Caribbean – Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) won gold in the javelin with Anders Peters (Grenada) second. Thea Lafond (Grenada) and Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago) took silver in the triple-jump and 400 metres respectively. Defending champion Julien Alfred (St Lucia) was third in the women’s 100 metres. The high-light of a championships of many high-lights was the women’s 5,000 metres where Kenyans Beatrice Chebet, winner of the 10,000 metres, came down to clash with, and narrowly beat, Faith Kipyegon, coming up from winning the 1,500 metres. Their compatriot Lilian Odira produced one of the most devastating finished to snatch the 800 metres gold medal.