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Thompson, Clayton headline Jamaica charge for star-filled Prefontaine Classic
July 01, 2025
Kishane Thompson and Tina Clayton, who were crowned male and female 100m champions at last weekend's Puma JAAA National Senior Championships in Kingston, headline a 14-member Jamaican contingent to participate at the 50th Prefontaine Classic -- the ninth stop of the Wanda Diamond League.
The meet will take place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, this Saturday.
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, and Jamaica's Ackeem Blake, ranked number four in the world and the third-place finisher at the National Championships with 9.88.
The field also features Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes and American Brandon Hickling.
FIERCE BATTLE
A fierce battle is also expected in the women's 100 metres as 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, and 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-Josee Ta Lou Smith of Cote d'Ivoire with a season-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 finals at the National Championships.
INVITATIONAL 100M
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 both failed to reach the final.
Deijanae 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 National Collegiate Athletics Association champion and university teammate Aaliyah Butler. Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is also down to compete.
Ackera Nugent, with a season-best 12.30 seconds 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) and 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-best of 6.74 metres, will face off against world leader Malaika Mihambo of Germany (7.07m) and world number three Tara Davis-Woodhall of the United States (7.05m).
Bryan Levell, who retained his national 200m title with a personal best of 20.10 seconds, will compete in the men's 200m 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, the respective National Championships' 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, while Rajindra Campbell -- like Stona, who did not participate at the Championships -- will contest the men's shot put.
