Jamaican track and field fans enjoyed exciting and encouraging performances as the season shifted into higher gear at the 2025 Gibson Relays in Kingston on Saturday (Feb 22).
With no Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah or Shericka Jackson in sight, Paris Olympic rising star and 100m finalist Tia Clayton secured the women’s 60m title with 7.02secs (+2.6 wind) in one time final and her twin sister, Tina, won another in 7.04secs (+2.2 wind) and placed second overall to Tia.
And in the men’s edition, Jamaica’s latest sprint sensation Kishane Thompson was there only as a spectator, but veteran Julian Forte shocked the field when he achieved a personal best of 6.48secs. Forte, who came from behind powerfully to snatch victory, has been troubled with injuries for several years and has not had a solid season in a long time.
Another injury-bothered elite athlete and national 400m record holder, Rusheen McDonald, recorded a season’s best time of 45.53secs to win the 400m. The 32-year-old took bronze at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and was a member of the 4x400m relay silver medal teams at the 2013 Moscow World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Tajay Gayle, the 2019 Doha World long jump gold medalist returned to form and set a meet record with a leap of 8.34m, surpassing the previous record of 7.95m. At this juncture in the season, he is the second-best long jumper in the world, only behind Italy’s Mattia Furlani.
Gayle’s personal best is 8.68 meters, which he achieved in Doha.
The men’s 4x100m noteworthy as Dynamic Speed team consisting of Yohan Blake, Akeem Blake, Javari Thomas, and Sandrey Davison, won in 38.68secs, the third-fastest time recorded this year. Elite Performance finished second in 39.53secs, and GC Foster Lions were third in 39.66secs. Racers Track Club, despite a good start from Oblique Seville, did not finish due to a failed baton exchange to Zharnel Hughes.
In the women’s 4x100m, SprinTec, anchored by Jodean Williams, set a meet record and world-leading time of 43.06secs, breaking the previous record of 43.13 seconds set by UTech in 2013. Elite Performance finished second in 43.73, and UTech were third in 45.46.
The men’s 4×400 clubs/institutions 4x400m relays had spectators in wild excitement as Zandrion Barnes ran a well-judged anchor leg to lead SprinTec to an exciting win over a strong Racers team in 3:06.78, the fastest time outdoors so far this year.
Barnes got the baton just behind the Racers team anchored by 2023 World Athletics Championships 400m gold medalist Antonio Watson and stayed just behind him until about 100 meters from the finish, then swinging past him to win going away. The Racers team was second in 3:07.72 and UTech third in 3:14.66. The Racers team also included Jeremy Bembridge and Jevaughn Powell while Demish Gaye ran the third leg for SprinTec. Listen the discussion:
