Jamaica: Thompson secures personal track record, qualifies for Paris Olympics

Kishane Thompson continues delivering impressive records at the Jamaica Olympic trails, this time with his lifetime best of 9.77 seconds which is also a world-leading record, to climb to the top in men’s 100-meter final at the National Stadium, on this Friday night.

A stadium record was established as Thompson eases up to the tabletop at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships, by beating Oblique Seville, who secured the second place with a timing of 9.82 seconds and Ackeem Blake, who finished at third in 9.92 seconds. With a record time of 9.77 seconds, Thompson has secured his debut Olympic qualification and also maintained his unbeaten record at the trails. With the record he also happens to mark this to be the fastest in the world in the past two years.

Kishane Thompson who is a Jamaican track and field athlete, well known as a sprinter to hold impressive records. Thompson made his Diamond League debut on 21 July 2023, competing in the 100 metres in Monaco, to finish fifth at a clocking of 10.04s. Oblique Seville, who got the second place in the trails, also bested his past record. He was fourth at the World Championship 2023. He also defeated the reigning world champion, Noah Lyles of the USA on June 1, at the Racers Grand Prix.

Thompson’s previous record was 9.82 seconds in the first round of the championship on Thursday. Earlier to that, Thompson triumphed in the semi-finals with a clocking of 9.84 seconds. But he himself broke all his previous records with an impressive timing of 9.77 seconds.

At the end of the sprint, Thompson was seen running off to see Stephen Francis, better known as ‘Franno’, who is a renowned Jamaican coach and trained Shericka Jackson. Francis is the head coach and the founder of the MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power) Track Club. Kishane’s mother was also seen caught up in the celebration as she showered praises on her son for his remarkable victory.