Jamaicans dominate sprint showpiece as Kishane Thompson wins silver and Noah Lyles takes bronze at World Championships.

Usain Bolt was in the stands to watch his prediction come true as Jamaica completed a one-two in the men’s 100m final at the World Championships in Tokyo on Sunday night (September 14). 

Oblique Seville became the first sprinter from the Caribbean nation since the world record-holder to win the men’s 100m world title, clocking a PB of 9.77 (0.3) to beat compatriot Kishane Thompson (9.82) to the line and leave Olympic champion Noah Lyles to settle for third, despite the American’s season’s best of 9.89.

After the pre-race tension was ramped up by a false start from Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, it was Seville who reacted fastest to the gun but Thompson started sharply too and quickly established a lead, the Jamaican duo leaving the field in their wake. 

Seville, running in lane seven, finished the stronger, though and powered his way to gold. 

Speed was the overarching theme when it came to the 400m last night, too, with the fastest times ever recorded for a World Championships heat on both the men’s and women’s side.

For the men, US champion Jacory Patterson was fastest overall with a blistering 43.90, his fellow American Khaleb McRae closest in 44.25 as no fewer than 25 athletes broke 45 seconds. 

Despite a hip problem and looking decidedly uncomfortable, Olympic and world silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith went through to the semis in 44.68, and was joined by team-mates Charlie Dobson (44.85) and Sam Reardon (44.70).

The 2019 world champion, Salwa Eid Naser, led the way for the women with her run of 49.13. Second fastest was Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (49.41) with reigning Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino fourth overall but comfortably through in 49.85.

The British trio of world indoor champion Amber Anning (49.96), Yemi Mary John (50.71) and Victoria Ohuruogu (51.37) also progressed. 

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