Florida’s Miramar Invitational, a key early-season outdoor track and field event leading into the 2024 global championship season, turned into a showcase for Jamaican sprinting talent on Saturday, with multiple podium-topping performances from the Caribbean island’s top athletes.
Leading the charge was Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson, who claimed the men’s 150m crown in a new meet record time of 14.92 seconds, with a legal +1.3 m/s tailwind behind him. Thompson held off a late push from Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu, who crossed the line just 0.04 seconds behind to take second place, while Jamaica’s own Adrian Kerr rounded out the top three with a 15.21-second finish.
In the women’s equivalent 150m race, Tia Clayton delivered a thrilling last-stretch comeback to overtake Brianna Williams right at the finish line, securing the win with a 16.87-second run in +1.4 m/s wind. The result marked a promising return to top form for Williams, who held on for second place after splitting the Clayton twin pairing, posting 16.92 seconds. Tina Clayton completed the podium for the race, finishing third in 17.00 seconds.
Ackeem Blake carried his strong momentum from the 2024 indoor season into his first major outdoor competition of the year, taking gold in the men’s 100m with a wind-assisted 9.84-second finish, with the wind registering 2.2 m/s above the legal limit. Up-and-coming American teenager Tate Taylor took second place in 9.95 seconds, while Jamaica’s Rohan Watson earned third spot with a 9.99-second run.
In the women’s 100m, Lavanya Williams edged out Dominican competitor Liranyi Alonso by the narrowest of margins to take the win, also clocking a wind-assisted 10.99 seconds to Alonso’s 11.00 seconds. Jamaica’s Jodean Williams finished third in 11.09 seconds, after Lavanya Williams had already posted an even faster 10.98 seconds to win her qualifying heat, another result boosted by above-regulation wind.
Young Jamaican hurdling talent Kerrica Hill was unstoppable in the women’s 100m hurdles, matching her 12.81-second qualifying time in the final to hold off the USA’s Alexandra Webster, who took second in 12.86 seconds. Jamaica’s Demisha Roswell completed a Jamaican top-three sweep with a third-place 12.94-second run. In the men’s 110m hurdles, the win went to American Jamal Britt who crossed the line in 13.07 seconds, while Jamaica’s Dejour Russell (13.45 seconds) finished fourth and compatriot Lafranz Campbell placed sixth in 13.67 seconds.
Jamaica closed out the day of competition with another victory in the mixed 4×100m relay, clocking a winning time of 41.24 seconds to finish ahead of the All-Star representative team, which took second in 41.79 seconds. Barbados rounded out the relay podium in third place with a 42.69-second finish. In the women’s 300m, Jamaican star Shericka Jackson placed second in her opening heat with a 36.51-second run to qualify for the overall standings, ultimately finishing third overall. The race was won by Barbados’ Sade Williams in 36.23 seconds, with the USA’s Kenondra Davis taking second after winning the second heat in 36.44 seconds.