OFF TO A FLYER
Personal bests for Kishane Thompson, Tia Clayton in Spanish Town
Olympic Games men’s 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson ran a world-leading 6.48 seconds (-2.1m/s) at the Central Hurdles, Relays and Field Events meet at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in Spanish Town, St Catherine, yesterday.
With this he signalled his readiness for his planned 60m indoor debut at the Astana Indoor Meet for Amin Tuyakov Prizes next week. This is the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of 2025.
In his first race over the distance since the 2022 season, Thompson smashed his previous best of 6.67 seconds set at the National Stadium and took over the world lead from Ghana’s Barnabas Aggerh, who ran 6.52 seconds in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 11.
Nishion Ebanks was second in 6.54 seconds and former national 100m champion Rohan Watson third in 6.61 seconds, both also personal best marks.
Thompson’s run saw him move up the all-time Jamaican men’s 60m charts into fifth place behind national record holder and World Athletics Indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake (6.42), Asafa Powell (6.44), Yohan Blake (6.45), and Lerone Clarke (6.47).
He moved past former World Indoor medallist Nesta Carter and Michael Green, who both had best times of 6.49s.
Olympic Games 100m finalist Tia Clayton also laid down a marker when she won the women’s race in 7.14 seconds (-1.1m/s), beating team mates Natasha Morrison and Jonielle Smith, who posted the same time (7.18). Serena Cole (7.23) was fourth.
The time saw Clayton move into a tie for 18th place on the Jamaican charts with Kerron Stewart, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Simone Facey, and Gayon Evans.
Clayton is also expected in Astana next weekend.
Kishane Thompson at the Paris Olympic Games last summer (Photo: Naphtali Junior)