Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan delivered her fastest 100m performance of the season, clocking 11.18 seconds (1.8m/s) at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica. The World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event saw Amusan secure fourth place in a fiercely contested women’s sprint final, where the top four athletes all set season-best times. Notably, the top two finishers also achieved the qualification standard for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Competing in lane two under the banner of the Racers Track Club, Amusan reacted to the gun in 0.198 seconds, holding her own against a field dominated by Jamaican and American sprinters. While she missed the podium, her performance marked a significant improvement from her previous outings this year, shaving off a tenth of a second from her previous season-best of 11.28s set at the Velocity Fest in March.

A Rare Sprint Appearance for the Hurdles Specialist

This race was only Amusan’s second 100m flat event of the season and her third in the last 14 months, highlighting her gradual shift towards sprinting as she continues to refine her speed for her primary event—the 100m hurdles.

The race was won by Jamaica’s Tina Clayton, who blazed to victory in 10.98 seconds from lane three, with a reaction time of 0.179s.

“I was looking for a good performance,” Clayton said after the race. “The last time I was this nervous, I ran 10.9, so I knew the performance would be good.”

Clayton’s focus now shifts to maintaining consistency as she builds towards major championships.

Strong Competition as Sears and Reid Shine

Close behind Clayton was Jacious Sears of the United States, who finished second in 11.04s—also dipping under the World Championships qualifying mark. Sears had the quickest reaction time in the field, exploding out of the blocks in 0.158s.

Another rising Jamaican star, Alana Garren Reid (born in 2005), claimed third place with 11.16s, just edging out Amusan. The Nigerian sprinter, primarily known for her hurdling prowess, demonstrated her growing sprinting credentials against a younger, speed-focused field.

Tia Clayton, twin sister of the race winner, rounded out the top five with 11.24s, further emphasizing Jamaica’s dominance in the event.

Amusan’s Steady Progress Under Glen Mills’ Guidance

Amusan’s move to Jamaica in November 2024 to train under legendary coach Glen Mills at the Racers Track Club appears to be paying off. The switch from the United States was reportedly driven by her desire to enhance her sprinting ability and better integrate raw speed into her hurdling technique.

Her season began modestly with an 11.41s finish in the Velocity Fest heats, followed by an 11.28s in the final. At the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, last April, she improved to 11.26s for third place. Now, her 11.18s in Kingston stands as her best performance since setting her personal best of 11.10s in 2023 on the same Florida track.

Jamaican Dominance Across Sprint Events

The Racers Grand Prix also showcased Jamaica’s sprinting depth in other events.

Men’s 100m: Kishane Thompson Stuns with 9.88s

Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson delivered a commanding performance, winning the men’s 100m in 9.88 seconds (0.0m/s). His compatriot Oblique Seville pushed hard to secure second place in a season-best 9.97s, while South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (10.04s) and world U20 champion Bayanda Walaza (10.06s) took third and fourth, respectively.

Men’s 110m Hurdles: Broadbell Edges Out Cunningham

In a thrilling hurdles clash, Olympic bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell narrowly defeated the in-form Trey Cunningham of the USA (13.06s to 13.08s). This marked Broadbell’s third win over Cunningham in their last five finals.

Women’s 100m Hurdles: Armstrong Matches Meet Record

USA’s Alia Armstrong equaled the meet record with a 12.54s (1.1m/s) finish, leaving world indoor champion Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas trailing in a season-best 12.65s.

Women’s 200m: Shericka Jackson Continues Strong Form

World champion Shericka Jackson cruised to victory in the 200m, clocking a season-best 22.53s (1.0m/s).

Men’s 200m: Bryan Levell Blazes to Victory

The men’s 200m lived up to expectations, with Jamaican champion Bryan Levell storming to victory in 19.79s.

What’s Next for Amusan?

Amusan’s performance in Kingston signals positive momentum as she balances sprinting with her hurdling ambitions. With the Paris Olympics and World Championships on the horizon, her progress under Mills’ tutelage will be crucial in determining whether she can translate her flat speed into hurdling dominance.

Fans will eagerly watch her next races to see if she can dip below 11.10s and challenge for sprint medals alongside her hurdles success.