Seville wins historic sub-10 race

World champion Oblique Seville delivered another statement performance yesterday, winning an historic men’s 100 metres final at the Silesia Diamond League in Chorzow, Poland.

All nine finalists dipped below 10 seconds, with Seville storming to victory in a meet record 9.83 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek was a close second in 9.87, followed by compatriot Christian Coleman (9.93). Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi (9.94), South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.95), Canada’s Andre de Grasse (9.96), South Africa’s Akani Simbine (9.96), American Ronnie Baker (9.97) and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (9.99) rounded out the historic sub-10 field.

The race echoed the 2024 Paris Olympics final, the first ever where all eight finalists broke 10 seconds. That event was won by American Noah Lyles in 9.79.

Yesterday, Seville and Bednarek were inseparable through 70 metres before the Jamaican surged ahead in the closing stages. The victory reinforced his outstanding form, following his world-leading 9.82 at the National Championships in June. Seville, who captured the world title in Tokyo last year, was delighted with his performance.

“I am in pretty good shape and feeling proud about the win. I am in great shape for the Ultimate Championships. The atmosphere here is great and I would love to be back next year. The victory feels nice, especially as I am close to my PB. I am just happy. I got the meeting record like I said I would at the press conference,” said Seville, who now turns his attention to Zurich on Thursday.

Ackeem Blake, who competed in the preliminary round, failed to advance after finishing seventh in his heat in 10.26.

Jamaica also featured prominently in the women’s 100m. Brianna Lyston, Tina Clayton and Tia Clayton lined up against Olympic champion Julien Alfred, world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sha’Carri Richardson. Jefferson-Wooden took the win in 10.78, equalling her season’s best. Alfred followed in 10.83, Richardson was third in 10.96, while Lyston placed fourth in 10.96. Tina Clayton finished sixth in 11.01 and Tia Clayton ninth in 11.24.

Nickisha Pryce produced Jamaica’s second-best performance of the meet, finishing runner-up in the women’s 400m in a season’s best 49.49. National champion Stacey Ann Williams was sixth in 49.81. World leader Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won in 48.87, with Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser third in a season’s best 49.57.

In a non-Diamond League women’s 100m hurdles, Megan Simmonds was second in 12.62, Ackera Nugent fourth in 12.64 and Danielle Williams fifth in 12.70. American Alysha Johnson won in 12.52. World Championships silver medallist Orlando Bennett placed fifth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.25. The United States dominated, with world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp clocking 13.05, ahead of Trey Cunningham (13.08) and Jamal Britt (13.09).

In the field events, Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell was sixth in the men’s shot put (21.61m), Roje Stona sixth in the discus (67.65m) and Ralford Mullings seventh (66.44m). Akeelah Smith finished eighth in the women’s triple jump (13.97m), while Lamara Distin cleared 1.89m for ninth in the women’s high jump.

Brazil’s Alison dos Santos produced a world-leading 46.43 to win the men’s 400m hurdles, edging Norway’s Karsten Warholm (46.52). Botswana’s Collen Busang Kebinatshipi set a meet record 43.39 in the men’s 400m, ahead of American Rai Benjamin’s personal-best 43.83. Senegal’s Saly Sarr claimed the women’s triple jump with a national record 15.08m, while Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh equalled the meet record of 2.00m to win the women’s high jump.