KINGSTON, Jamaica – Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson looks well set to defend his men’s 100m title after he ran a sublime season’s best 9.80 seconds (0.4m/s) to lead the qualifiers for the finals set for Friday’s second day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s (JAAA) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium.

Minutes after Oblique Seville had whetted the appetites of a packed grand stand with an easy looking 9.84 seconds (0.5m/s), Thompson upped the temperatures as he powered his way through the finish line.

June 26, 2025.

Bryan Levell ran back-to-back personal bests, clocking 9.94 seconds, after he ran 9.99 seconds a day earlier to book his spot as former national champion Rohan Watson ran a season’s best 10.00 seconds followed by Kadrian Goldson and Ackeem Blake, both advancing with 10.05 seconds with Ryiem Forde and Bouwahjgie Nkrumie both ran 10.06 seconds.

Here’s a refined 600‑word feature on Kishane Thompson’s bid to defend his 100 m crown at the National Trials:

National Trials 2025: Kishane Thompson Poised to Retain Jamaica’s 100 m Crown

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KINGSTON, Jamaica – June 27, 2025. Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson looks supremely on track to defend his men’s 100 m title at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s National Senior Championships at Kingston’s National Stadium.

His season-best 9.80 s run in the semi-finals confirmed he’s still the man to beat (jamaicaobserver.com).

In a captivating qualifying round, Thompson surged ahead with a 9.80 s effort (+0.4 m/s), surpassing earlier leader Oblique Seville’s 9.84 s (+0.5 m/s).

That dominant display set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling final on Friday night (jamaicaobserver.com).

A Familiar Rivalry Heating Up

Seville, finishing second in the semis, clocked a solid 9.84 s but faces steep competition.

Olympic-blazed Ackeem Blake, fourth in Paris and beaten into third in the qualifiers, ran 10.05 s, securing his berth in the final (jamaicaobserver.com).

Meanwhile, rising star Bryan Levell broke the 10‑second barrier twice—9.99 s in Round 1, followed by a 9.94 s run—positioning himself as a genuine challenger (jamaicaobserver.com).

Veteran sprinters Rohan Watson (10.00 s), Kadrian Goldson and Ryiem Forde (both 10.05–06 s), along with national junior record-holder Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (10.06 s), all make up a competitive field vying for Olympic selection (jamaicaobserver.com).

From Rising Talent to Olympic Contender

Only 23 and training with MVP under Stephen Francis, Thompson’s trajectory has been meteoric.

A year after his national breakthrough with a 9.77 s victory, he added Olympic silver in Paris.

Now, he’s elevated his game further, reaching a lifetime best 9.75 s (+0.8 m/s) in the Trials final—tying the fastest ever mark at the National Stadium, previously set by Yohan Blake in 2012 (jamaicaobserver.com).

This personal best also stands as a world-leading time for 2025.

Against the backdrop of fierce domestic competition, Thompson’s chemistry of growing maturity and enhanced speed endurance is striking (jamaicaobserver.com).

Chasing Sub‑9.70 Potential

While Thompson has talked about continuing to refine his technique, particularly his drive through the finish, recent performances suggest he’s edging closer to low‑9.70 territory.

Analysts highlight his combination of raw speed and polished acceleration—the same qualities that propelled him to a silver medal in Paris .

However, the Championships are not won on paper. Seville’s resurgence, Blake’s power, Levell’s emergence, and Watson’s steadiness set the stage for a high‑stakes final.

All three are targets aiming for those coveted Olympic team positions—and, more importantly, the national title itself.

Finals Night: The Stakes Elevated

As Friday evening dawns, Thompson heads to the blocks not just as defending champion, but as the benchmark—9.80 s in the semis and a blistering 9.75 s in the final mark him as the man to beat.

But every top-tier finalist brings potential for upset.

Be it Seville’s consistency, Blake’s indoor prowess, Levell’s break‑through under‑10 seconds, or seasoned Watson’s elite mettle, the line‑up is stacked. The evening showdown promises not only Olympic selection drama but a potential recalibration of sprint hierarchies in the post‑Bolt era.

What To Watch Tonight

1. Beats and Drift – Will Thompson’s world‑leading pace in the final outshine his 9.80 s index? A sub‑9.75 performance could reshape his status among global sprinters.

2. Rivalry Unveiled – Seville versus Thompson may deliver more than a photo finish—it’s a microcosm of Jamaican sprint depth.

3. Next‑Gen Surge – Levell’s double sub‑10 clockings make him not just a names to watch but potentially a medal‑prospect in future world meets.

Tonight’s final isn’t merely about national glory—it’s a statement of intent for the Olympics. For Thompson and company, it’s the latest chapter in Jamaica’s ongoing sprint supremacy.

 Kishane Thompson is firing on all cylinders, charging into the 100 m final with history-making credentials—world lead, stadium record, Olympic pedigree. But with rivals breathing down his neck, expectations peak. The final isn’t just about this title—it’s Jamaica’s declaration of sprint dominance ahead of Paris and beyond.

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