Amusan Sets World Lead in 100m Hurdles; British Athletes Excel at Jamaica Athletics Invitational

At the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational, held at the National Stadium, Nigeria's Tobi Amusan set a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds (0.9m/s) to clinch victory in the 100m hurdles. The 2022 World Champion surged ahead at the eighth hurdle, outpacing fellow World Champion Danielle Williams, who secured a season-best 12.46 seconds for second place, and American Christina Clemons, who finished third in 12.54 seconds.

At the same meet, British athletes dominated the 200m events. Dina Asher-Smith triumphed in the women's race with a time of 22.51 seconds, edging out Ivory Coast’s Jessika Gbai and Jamaica’s Lanae-Tava Thomas. Asher-Smith, the 2019 world champion in the 200m, is aiming for further success at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. In the men's 200m, Zharnel Hughes completed the British sweep by winning in 19.96 seconds, ahead of American Fred Kerley and France’s Pablo Mateo.

British success continued with Matt Hudson-Smith winning the 400m in 44.69 seconds, defeating American Matthew Boling and Jamaica's Zandrion Barnes.

The 100m races also saw impressive performances. Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Ivory Coast, in her first race of the season and first appearance in Jamaica, triumphed in the women’s 100m with a season-best 10.91 seconds (1.1m/s). She narrowly defeated Krystal Sloley, who set a personal best of 11.09 seconds. Kemba Nelson took third place with a season-best 11.12 seconds.

In the men’s 100m, Jamaica’s Julian Forte, building on a 10.07-second run the previous week, clinched victory with a time of 10.02 seconds (0.8m/s), the same time awarded to World Indoor bronze medalist Akeem Blake, with American Brandon Hickling finishing third in 10.09 seconds.

• Jamaica Athletics Invitational 2024 Results