Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville clinched the top spot at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday in the final of the highly charged 100m dash event.
The 24-year-old registered a PB of 9.77 seconds to finish ahead of compatriot Kishane Thompson, who finished the race in 9.82s, and American Noah Lyles, who timed 9.89s.
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It was the Caribbean island’s first world sprint title since Usain Bolt, watching from the stands, won the 100m and 200m double at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
Bolt, an 11-time world champion, had predicted a Jamaican 1-2 finish in this 100m, confidently supporting both Thompson and Seville to outpace Olympic champion Lyles.
His
prediction proved accurate with a keen understanding of form and technique.
Bolt erupted in cheers when the Jamaican duo crossed the finish line.
Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” boomed over the tannoy as the sizeable Jamaican fan contingent cheered in delight. The 24-year-old Seville responded by ripping open the top of his one-piece sprint suit.
Ever the showman, Lyles, in lane four outside Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi, received a rapturous welcome from a packed-out National Stadium.
As the on-track camera zoomed in for an introductory shot on the two giant screens, the 28-year-old American thrust up his hands.
There was no repeat of his imaginary “kamehamaha” energy ball attack, a tribute to the Japanese anime “Dragon Ball,” which had delighted the crowd during the heats.
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Thompson, much more subdued, was in lane five, American Kenny Bednarek in six, a calm Seville in seven, and Botswana’s Olympic silver medallist Letsile Tebogo in eight.
Akani Simbine and Gift Leotlela, the two South Africans who qualified as the next two fastest from the semi-finals, were drawn in lanes one and nine respectively.
There was drama, however, as Tebogo false-started. His pre-emptive stumble forward was so blatant that the officials had no hesitation in showing him a straight red card.
The Botswanan offered a round of applause to a muted crowd as he exited in a sad end to his day.
The seven remaining sprinters were recalled and resettled into the blocks, with the starter shushing a crowd now buzzing with anticipation.
On the second attempt, Lyles — not known for his fast starts — was left behind by Thompson and Seville, who sped away.
The American’s top-end speed in the last third of the race is legendary, but he had left himself far too much ground to cover.
Thompson arguably had the best start, propelling his huge frame into a lead that he only ceded to Seville in the very final metres.
With Bolt erupting in joy, flags waving, and whistles blown by a partisan crowd, the moment belonged to Jamaica, heralding the potential arrival of a new dynasty of sprinters capable of competing with the elite of the United States.
