Jamaica has unveiled a powerful 60-member squad for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, promising a captivating blend of championship pedigree and youthful ambition. With the competition set for September 13–21, the island’s athletes will chase glory on the track and in the field, while the nation bids farewell to one of its greatest ever sprinters.
FRASER-PRYCE’S FINAL BOW
The legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce headlines the team in what is expected to be her final World Championships appearance. The five-time world 100m champion, now 38, will line up in the 100m and women’s 4x100m relay, determined to close her glittering career with another podium finish.
She will be joined by reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson, who enters Tokyo as one of the favourites for sprint gold, and young star Tina Clayton, making her senior World Championships debut.
SPRINT DEPTH ON BOTH SIDES
The men’s 100m trio of Kishane Thompson, Ackeem Blake, and Oblique Seville underlines Jamaica’s efforts to reclaim dominance in the post-Bolt era. Thompson, the national champion, has been in blistering form, while Seville’s consistency keeps him firmly in medal contention. The men’s 4x100m relay team featuring Blake, Seville, Thompson, Ryiem Forde, Kadrian Goldson, and Rohan Watson will be expected to challenge the United States for gold.
In the longer sprints, the men’s 400m team of Delano Kennedy, Antonio Watson, Rusheen McDonald, and Bovel McPherson will anchor both the open event and the relays. For the women, Nickisha Pryce, Stacey Ann Williams, and Dejanea Oakley headline the 400m squad, with Pryce among the first-timers tipped to make a strong impression.
HISTORIC MIDDLE-DISTANCE DEBUT
For the first time in history, Jamaica will field three athletes in the women’s 800m: Kelly Ann Beckford, Natoya Goule-Toppin, and Adelle Tracey. Tracey, who will also compete in the 1500m, represents a groundbreaking expansion for the island beyond sprinting.
HURDLES, JUMPS, AND THROWS ADD VERSATILITY
The hurdles squad features Olympic champion Hansle Parchment as an alternate in the 110m, with Orlando Bennett, Tyler Mason, and Demario Prince making up the main lineup. On the women’s side, world champion Danielle Williams will be joined by Ackera Nugent, another first-time competitor, alongside Megan Tapper and Amoi Brown.
In the field, Tajay Gayle seeks a return to medal-winning form in the men’s long jump, while Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith are tipped to dominate the women’s triple jump. Lamara Distin leads the high jump hopes, with Samantha Hall, Lloydricia Cameron, and Nayoka Clunis covering the throws.
FIRST-TIME APPEARANCE
Among the debutants are Nickisha Pryce (400m), Ackera Nugent (100m hurdles), and Adelle Tracey (800m/1500m). They are joined by rising names such as Dejanea Oakley, Gabrielle Matthews (200m), Ashanti Moore (200m), and Amoi Brown (100m hurdles), underscoring Jamaica’s next generation of stars.
MEDAL OUTLOOK
Jamaica’s medal prospects once again rest heavily on the women’s sprints, with Shericka Jackson carrying the nation’s sole 200m hopes and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce eyeing another 100m podium. However, Fraser-Pryce faces stiff competition from a younger field consistently dipping under 11 seconds this season. The women’s 4x100m relay unit is also strongly tipped for gold.
On the men’s side, Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville are well placed for 100m medals, while the 4x100m relay squad is seen as a genuine title threat, provided the baton makes it safely around, with Bryan Levell expected to steady the crucial third leg. In the hurdles, world champion Danielle Williams, rising star Nugent, fresh from Diamond League and Grand Slam triumphs, and Olympic medallist Megan Tapper headline Jamaica’s challenge. Meanwhile, the field events could deliver surprise podiums, with Shanieka Ricketts, Ackelia Smith, and Lamara Distin leading the charge.
Jamaica is projected to finish inside the top five nations on the medal table. Analysts predict a haul of 8–10 medals, including 3–4 golds, led by the women’s sprints and relays. The inclusion of historic middle-distance entrants and a deeper field lineup signals a broader future for Jamaican track and field.
As Tokyo 2025 nears, Jamaica stands ready to celebrate the twilight of Fraser-Pryce’s golden career while embracing the dawn of a new generation.
