TOKYO, Sep 15 (Kyodo/APP): Jamaica’s Oblique Seville snared gold and compatriot Kishane Thompson silver in a scintillating men’s 100-meter final Sunday at the world athletics championships in Tokyo.
Seville crossed the line at Tokyo’s National Stadium in a personal-best 9.77 seconds, 0.05 ahead of Paris Games silver medalist Thompson, with Olympic champion Noah Lyles of the United States claiming bronze in a season-best 9.89.
In the women’s 100 final, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States set a meet record of 10.61 to claim gold ahead of Jamaica’s Tina Clayton in 10.76, with Paris Olympic winner Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia rounding out the podium in 10.84.
With Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt cheering from the stands, Seville pulled away from Thompson over the final 10 meters to ensure his first individual world championship medal was a golden one.
“It’s a long journey knowing I’ve missed the podium many times, and this is my moment, so I’m enjoying it,” said Seville, after winning Jamaica’s first world championship or Olympic gold since Bolt at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. “It’s a good feeling when Jamaica is back on top.”
Overcoming a slow start, defending Olympic and world champion Lyles finished strongly to edge out countryman Kenneth Bednarek for the bronze medal.
In the men’s 400 heats, Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima set a national record of 44.44 seconds as he booked his place in Tuesday’s semifinal.
The 23-year-old finished second in the heat won by Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori in 44.36 and qualified sixth-fastest overall.
“I tried to stay calm from the first half and focus on my own race,” Nakajima said. “I was able to run as planned. My main goal is to reach the final. I want to raise my level (for the semifinals).”
Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu and Yuto Seko cleared 2.25 meters in the men’s high jump heats and progressed to Tuesday’s final.