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Nugent,Williams in crack hurdles line-up
July 04, 2025
UNDOUBTEDLY, the hottest event in track and field right now is the women's 100m hurdles, as this is the only event where any of the eight finalists could come out on top.
Come tomorrow at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon -- the ninth stop on the Wanda Diamond League series -- another classic is expected as eight women line up in what promises to be another mouth-watering clash.
Two Jamaicans -- Ackera Nugent, ranked fifth with a season-best 12.30 seconds, and Danielle Williams, ranked 10th with a season-best 12.63 -- will be in the mix.
Overall, the line-up features eight athletes ranked in the top 10 on the World Top List, led by number one Massi Russell of the United States (US), who clocked 12.17 at the Grand Slam Track Series in Florida. Also running is the second-place finisher in that race, fellow American Tia Jones, who is ranked number two with 12.29.
They will be joined by fourth-ranked Tobi Amusan of Nigeria (12.24), Kendra Harrison of the US at number seven (12.40), and Alia Armstrong, ranked eighth with 12.49.
SUPERB FORM
Coming off superb form at the National Senior Championships, where they were crowned male and female senior champions, Kishane Thompson and Tina Clayton will be part of the star-studded line-ups in the blue-riband event.
Thompson, the world leader with a personal-best 9.75, will lead the charge in the men's 100m. He will be joined by countryman Ackeem Blake, who has a season and personal best of 9.88 and is ranked sixth in the world.
They will face off with previous world leader Trayvon Bromell of the US, who has a season-best 9.84 and is ranked third. Brandon Hicklin (US) with 9.93 and South Africa's teenage sensation Bayandra Walaza (9.94) will also line up.
ACID TEST
Tina Clayton, fresh off her first senior title and personal best of 10.81 seconds to win the women's 100m last weekend, will face an acid test.
Ranked number three in the world, she will line up against the three medallists from last year's Olympic Games -- St Lucia's Julien Alfred, and the US's Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who tops the world ranking with 10.73. Alfred is close behind at 10.75.
After a dismal season-opener where she finished fourth in 11.47, Richardson -- who enjoys competing at Hayward Field -- will be looking to bounce back in fine style.
After securing her first national senior cap with her win at the National Championships, Tina will be highly motivated and could deliver something very special, despite the quality of the field.
Also entered are the US's Twanisha Terry, ranked fourth with 10.85; Nigeria's Favour Ofili, ranked sixth with 10.87; and veterans Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain and Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Cote d'Ivoire.
