National sprint champs turn attention to Prefontaine Classic

KISHANE THOMPSON and Tina Clayton, who were crowned male and female 100m champions at last weekend’s JAAA National Junior and Senior Championships in Kingston, will headline a 14-member Jamaican contingent set to invade Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, this Saturday for the 50th Prefontaine Classic — the ninth stop of the Wanda Diamond League.

Thompson, making his second appearance at the meet, recently soared to the top of the world rankings in the men’s 100m after posting a personal best and stadium record of 9.75 seconds to win back-to-back national titles.

A silver medallist at last year’s Olympic Games, Thompson will face a crack line-up that includes current world number three Trayvon Bromell of the United States, who boasts a best of 9.84. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, ranked number four in the world and third-place finisher at the National Championships with 9.88, will also start. The field also features Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and American Brandon Hickling.

A fierce battle is expected in the women’s 100 metres as Tina Clayton, who claimed victory at the National Championships with a personal-best 10.81 — making her the third-fastest in the world this year — will test her mettle against a quality line-up.

The three medallists from last year’s Olympic Games — world leader Julien Alfred of St Lucia, Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States, and her countrywoman Melissa Jefferson-Woodham — are all set to compete.

Jefferson-Woodham, who dominated the Grand Slam Track Series, leads the world with 10.73, ahead of the outstanding Alfred with 10.75. Richardson, in her season opener, finished a disappointing fourth in Tokyo in 11.47. It will be interesting to see how she rebounds.

Also in the event are Twanisha Terry of the United States, ranked number four with 10.85, Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith of Côte d’Ivoire with a season’s best 10.92, and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith with 10.93.

Jamaica’s Tia Clayton, ranked fifth with 10.86, was invited but will miss the meet due to an injury sustained in the final at the National Championships.

There will also be an invitational women’s 100m race, featuring three Jamaicans — Alana Reid, who placed sixth at the National Championships, along with Natasha Morrison and Briana Williams, who failed to reach the final.

Dijanea Oakley, runner-up in the women’s 400m at the National Championships, will contest the non-Diamond League race where she will renew rivalry with NCAA champion and university teammate Aaliyah Butler. Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is also down to compete.

Ackera Nugent, with a season’s best 12.30 and runner-up to Megan Tapper at the National Championships, will contest the women’s 100m hurdles along with Danielle Williams. The top three hurdlers this season — Masai Russell (12.17), Tia Jones (12.19) of the United States, and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (12.24) — will also line up.

Long jumper Ackelia Smith, the national back-to-back champion with a season’s best of 6.74 metres, will face off against world leader Malaika Mihambo of Germany (7.07) and world number three Tara Davis-Woodhall of the United States (7.05).

Bryan Levell, who retained his national 200m title with a personal best of 20.10, will compete in the men’s 200 metres against world number two Kenneth Bednarek of the United States (19.84). Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo will return to competition after injury alongside American Kyree King.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, National Championship silver and bronze medallists Asannie Wilson (48.42) and Malik James-King (48.49) will take on the season’s top three performers — Rai Benjamin of the United States (46.54), Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (46.68), and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.09).

In the field events, national champion Ralford Mullings will compete in the men’s discus, joined by Roje Stona, and Rajindra Campbell will contest the men’s shot put.