Jamaica ready to make Ultimate mark

JAMAICA will send a powerful contingent of 27 athletes — 17 females and 10 males — into individual events at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, from Friday to Sunday, with reigning world champion Oblique Seville and Diamond League champion Tina Clayton leading the charge.
The Jamaicans will also contest the mixed 4x100 metres and mixed 4x400 metres relays, giving the country opportunities for success in a championship designed to bring together the world’s Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners, and leading performers of the season.
The Ultimate will be unlike a traditional championship, with the world’s best going head-to-head in a compact programme featuring the cream of global athletics.
And Jamaicans will arrive in Budapest full of confidence after producing their best-ever haul of four Diamond League titles at last weekend’s final in Brussels.
Seville won the men’s 100m in 9.90 seconds, Tajay Gayle captured the long jump with 8.46m, Rajindra Campbell produced a Jamaican record 23.08m to win the shot put, while Tina Clayton completed the golden sweep by taking the women’s 100m in 10.93 seconds.
Campbell will not be on show, however, as shot put is not on the events schedule.
Women’s 100m showdown
The women’s 100m could provide one of Jamaica’s biggest medal opportunities, with five representatives in the star-studded field.
Tina Clayton will go into the race as one of the leading contenders after her Diamond League triumph in Brussels. She will be joined by Jonielle Smith, Lavanya Williams, Brianna Lyston and Jodean Williams.
Clayton has already demonstrated that she can beat the best, having defeated Britain’s Amy Hunt and American Sha’Carri Richardson in Brussels. She enters Budapest with a season’s best of 10.85 seconds and is ranked among the leading women in the world.
The competition will be fierce, however, with Olympic champion Julien Alfred and world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the field.
Seville carries men’s hopes
Seville will headline the Jamaican men’s challenge after ending the Diamond League season in spectacular fashion.
The world champion produced 9.90 seconds to win in Brussels and will now face another collection of the world’s fastest men, including American Kenny Bednarek, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and American sprint stars Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell.
Seville is the top-ranked athlete in the Ultimate field and has a season best of 9.82 seconds. His compatriot Ackeem Blake, with a season best of 9.94, will also line up, giving Jamaica two strong contenders.
Strong presence in sprints
Jamaica’s male sprint contingent also includes Bryan Levell and Christopher Taylor in the 200m.
Levell has been one of the fastest men in the event this season, with a 19.93-second season best, while Taylor has run 20.11.
They will face a formidable field, led by American Kenny Bednarek, who produced a world-leading 19.62 seconds at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
On the women’s side, Lavanya Williams and Ashanti Moore will contest the 200m. Williams has a season best of 22.44, while Moore has run 22.45, but they face a powerful field that includes world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and several other sub-22.5 performers.
Pryce, Williams face tough 400m
Jamaica will have two strong representatives in the women’s 400m through Nickisha Pryce and Stacey-Ann Williams.
Pryce, who has run 49.27 this season, is ranked among the leading contenders, while Williams has a season best of 49.48.
But the event has been dominated by Olympic and world-class opposition, led by Dominican Republic star Marileidy Paulino, Norway’s Henriette Jæger, and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser.
Pryce finished third in Brussels in 49.36 seconds, giving her additional confidence heading into Budapest.
Women’s sprint hurdles
The women’s 100m hurdles will have another strong Jamaican presence, with Demisha Roswell, Megan Simmonds, Danielle Williams and Ackera Nugent all entered.
Williams brings considerable championship experience, while Nugent remains one of the most naturally gifted hurdlers in the field.
Roswell has a season best of 12.40, Simmonds 12.43, Danielle Williams 12.51 and Nugent 12.56.
They will face a world-class field led by American world-record holder Masai Russell, who has run 12.09 this season, as well as Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan and Bahamas star Devynne Charlton.