KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of Jamaica’s fastest rising sprint stars, Olympic and World Championship silver medalist Kishane Thompson, will not compete in the men’s 100-meter event at the upcoming Jamaican National Championships, the mandatory qualifying event for the country’s global junior and senior athletic teams, multiple sources close to the event have confirmed.
The annual national trials, a staple on Jamaica’s athletic calendar, is scheduled to run from Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21, with spots on two major international teams up for grabs this year. Athletes across all age groups are competing for a place on Jamaica’s roster for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to kick off in Glasgow, Scotland on July 23, as well as the World Under-20 Athletics Championship, which will take place in Eugene, Oregon from August 5 to 9.
When reached for comment on Thompson’s absence from the official 100m entry list, Paul Francis, head coach of the elite MVP Track & Field Club that trains Thompson, declined to share any details on the sprinter’s status, offering only a brief “no comment” to reporters.
Thompson is not the only high-profile sprinter missing from this year’s competition line-up. Bryan Levell, the 2025 World Athletics Championship bronze medalist in the 200m, is also absent from both the 100m and 200m entry rosters. Despite the two star absences, the open sprint fields still boast a deep pool of elite Jamaican talent, including reigning world champion Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake, Kadrian Goldson, Rohan Watson, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, Sachin Dennis, and Deandre Daley. Up-and-coming teenage sprinter Gary Card, one of Jamaica’s most hyped young sprint prospects, will also compete in the open 100m event.
In a surprising, exciting development for Jamaican athletics, little-known U.S.-based sprinter Justin Stewart has entered both the under-20 men’s 100m and 200m events. Though largely unknown to Jamaican track fans, Stewart comes from legendary sprinting stock: he is the son of two former Jamaican Olympians, 100m star Raymond Stewart and sprinter Beverley McDonald.
While Stewart holds eligibility to compete internationally for the United States, where he currently trains and resides, he has made the decision to represent his parents’ home country of Jamaica. Ahead of his national trials debut, Stewart has already posted impressive personal best times of 10.07 seconds in the 100m and 20.36 seconds in the 200m, giving Jamaican fans and selectors plenty to be excited about when he takes the track next week. He will face off against a field of top young Jamaican sprinters including Riquelme Reid, Sanjay Seymore, Malike Nugent, Johan-Ramaldo Smythe, Nyron Wade, Tyrece Foreman, Deequan Maragh and Jamal Stephenson.