Trials men’s 100 expected to be quick

ELAINE THOMPSON Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson have been the highlights over 100 metres at the JAAA Puma National Junior and Senior Championships (Trials) since 2017, the year Usain Bolt called it a day.

This year, though, the men are back.

The names Bolt, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell, and to a lesser extent, Yohan Blake are no longer the ones on the lips of the track and field faithful; however, those lips aren’t quiet.

At the Racers Grand Prix a few weeks ago, Oblique Seville, who was third at Trials and fourth at the World Championships, sent the track and field public into a frenzy.

In only his first 100-metre race of the season, he turned back world champion Noah Lyles of the United States, winning in 9.82 seconds.

The performance was even more impressive given that he turned to look at Lyles (9.85), easing 10 metres before the line to do so. He could have gone faster.

But Seville isn’t the only fast man Jamaica has in its ranks.

A year ago, MVP Track Club’s Rohan Watson shocked the field when he clocked 9.91 seconds to claim the national title.

He has been quiet this season; however, his coach Stephen Francis has sounded ominous.

According to Francis, Watson is ahead of where Powell, a former world record holder, was at this stage of his career.

There are other names, too.

Kishane Thompson clocked a first-round 9.91 at last Trials but had to be pulled as a precaution.

Still, he was the country’s quickest man, going below 10 seconds on four occasions, including a 10.85-second clocking in Xiamen, China.

Unfortunately, Thompson, who was plagued with a shin injury, also had quadriceps issues this season and his form is unknown.

There is also Ryiem Forde, who was second last year, Ackeem Blake, Julian Forte, Kadrian Goldson, Jehlani Gordon, Javari Thomas, and rising star Sandrey Davison.

A blanket finish could be seen for the first time in many moons.

All things being equal, there could also be a special time in the offering, with both Thompson and Seville challenging the 9.8-second barrier.