Latest News
Jamaica stars flood Budapest for World Continental Tour meet
August 11, 2025
There will be a Hungarian invasion of Jamaican senior athletes at tomorrow's Gyulai Istvan Memorial World Continental Tour Gold meet in Budapest, as 21 of the country's athletes, led by national 100 metres male and female champions Kishane Thompson and Tina Clayton step up their preparation for next month's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
In what could be a warm-up meet before his clash with the United States quartet of Kenneth Bednarek, Courtney Lindsay, Trayvon Bromell, and Noah Lyles at this Saturday's Wanda Silesia Diamond League, Thompson, the world leader in the men's 100m with 9.75 seconds, will be one of three Jamaicans contesting the event. The other locals are Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson.
After his easy win at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, in 9.85, before anchoring the Jamaica men's 4x100m relay to victory in 37.80 at the London Diamond League, Thompson will be hoping for another top-notch performance ahead of Saturday's high-profile meet.
Also in the line-up tomorrow will be South Africa's Akani Simbine, the only man to defeat Thompson so far this season, and Ronnie Baker of the United States.
It should be a mouth-watering clash in the women's 100m as the top three finishers at the Jamaica National Senior Championships -- Tina Clayton, Shericka Jackson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce -- renew battle.
Clayton, who clocked a personal best 10.81 to win in Jamaica, will be hoping to rebound from her fourth-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic and improve on last year's showing at this meet, where she finished eighth. Jackson, second at the Jamaica Trials in 10.88, and Fraser-Pryce, third in 10.91, will both be competing in the event for the first time since the Trials.
Both Jackson and Fraser-Pryce were second and third, respectively, in the 100m at the 2023 World Championships held at this venue and they will be aiming to continue their good form. While Jackson was a member of the women's 4x100m relay team that finished third at the London Diamond League, this will be Fraser-Pryce's first competition since the National Senior Championships.
Krystal Sloley, third at this meet last year and with a season's best of 11.16, will be the other Jamaican in the race.
Veteran Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith of Cote d'Ivoire, with a season best of 10.90, and the United States' Jacious Sears, with a best of 10.85, should make this a very competitive affair.
WOMEN'S 100M HURDLES
After a break following her win in Eugene, where she clocked a season best 12.32, Ackera Nugent will contest the women's 100m hurdles.
She will be joined by countrywoman Amoi Brown, third at the National Senior Championships in 12.67, along with the United States' Alia Armstrong (12.44) and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands (12.49).
Ashanti Moore, in sparkling form in Europe after a personal best 22.40 to book her individual spot in the 200m at the Tokyo World Championships and dipping under 11 seconds for the first time with a 10.94-second win in the 100m, will contest the women's 200m.
She will face Nigeria's Favour Ofili (21.96) and Great Britain's Daryll Neita (22.16).
The other Jamaican female on the track will be Shiann Salmon, contesting the 400m hurdles, as she looks to improve on her season best of 54.62.
The unbeaten Femke Bol, with a season best of 51.95, and NCAA Division 1 Outdoor champion Savannah Sutherland of Canada (52.46) will lead the charge.
Olympian Ackelia Smith will compete in the women's long jump as she seeks to improve on her season best of 6.70m, facing the United States duo of Claire Bryant (6.96m) and Quanesha Burks (6.90m), the top two entrants.
TOKYO QUALIFICATION
Time is running out for national 400m champion Rusheen McDonald as he hopes to hit the automatic qualifying standard for Tokyo when he contests the event. With a season best of 44.89, he is just four hundredths of a second outside the qualifying mark.
After failing to finish in his last two outings, former national champion Sean Bailey will also be in the event.
National champion Orlando Bennett will contest the men's 110m hurdles, along with Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, while in the men's 200m, Jamaicans Bryan Levell and Adrian Kerr will participate.
In the field events, Rajindra Campbell will compete in the men's shot put, Raymond Richards in the men's high jump, and Carey McLeod and Tajay Gayle will take part in the men's long jump.
