Jamaican sprint sensation Shericka Jackson lit up the track at the 2025 Racers Grand Prix, delivering a powerful performance in the women’s 200 meters to clinch victory with a season’s best time. The highly anticipated event, held at the National Stadium in Kingston, was a thrilling showcase of athletic talent, but it was Jackson who stole the show with her smooth, dominant run.

 

Clocking an impressive 21.78 seconds, Jackson reaffirmed her position as one of the world’s top sprinters. Her time not only marked a season’s best but also stood out as one of the fastest 200m runs globally so far this year. It was a significant statement as athletes continue to prepare for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.

 

From the moment the gun went off, Jackson took control of the race. Exploding out of the blocks and navigating the curve with trademark efficiency, she transitioned into the straight with a clear lead. Her stride remained composed and powerful, and there was no sign of her slowing down. The crowd, fully aware of her world-class capabilities, roared as she crossed the finish line well ahead of her competitors.

 

This victory carries extra weight for Jackson, who has been steadily building momentum throughout the 2025 season. After a strong showing in earlier Diamond League meets, her performance in Kingston confirms she is peaking at just the right time. Known for her incredible versatility across the 100m and 200m distances, Jackson continues to grow into her role as the torchbearer of Jamaican sprinting in the post-Usain Bolt era.

 

Speaking after the race, Jackson said, “It’s always a great feeling to run at home in front of Jamaican fans. Tonight was about execution and testing where I am in my training. I’m happy with the time, and I know there’s more to come.” Her comments reflect a growing confidence and focus as she eyes a major title later this year.

 

The Racers Grand Prix has long been a cornerstone of Jamaica’s athletics calendar, and the 2025 edition lived up to expectations. In addition to Jackson’s standout performance, the meet featured a strong lineup of local and international athletes, making it a valuable mid-season test ahead of global competition.

 

Fans were especially thrilled to witness Jackson’s race in person, a reminder of how electrifying live athletics can be. Her win also highlighted Jamaica’s continued dominance in sprinting, especially in the women’s ranks, where athletes like Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have consistently delivered on the world stage.

 

As the season progresses, Shericka Jackson’s performance in Kingston sends a clear message: she is not just a contender—she is a favorite. With the World Championships looming, her rivals will be taking serious note of her form. If her 21.78-second statement at the Racers Grand Prix is anything to go by, Jackson is ready to claim the top of the podium.

 

 

In a dramatic intersection of sports betting, social media, and athlete well-being, a major online bookmaker has banned a user who publicly gloated over Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas’s loss — claiming he “made her lose” to secure a high-stakes accumulator bet win.

 

The now-suspended bettor, whose username and account have since been deactivated, drew widespread backlash after posting a screenshot of his five-leg track and field accumulator that hinged on Thomas losing her race in the Diamond League meet. After Thomas finished second, the user took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to gloat: “Told y’all. I made her lose. Thanks for the bag, Gabby 💰💰💰.”

 

The post quickly went viral, sparking outrage from both fans and fellow athletes who criticized the taunt as disrespectful and potentially harmful. Gabby Thomas, a bronze medalist in the 200 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, responded gracefully but firmly, saying in a follow-up post: “Athletes are not here for your bets. We’re humans first — not pawns in your parlay.”

 

Thomas’s response sparked a larger conversation about the growing influence of gambling in sports culture — particularly the pressure it places on athletes who are increasingly subjected to taunts, threats, and abuse from bettors whose winnings hinge on their performance.

 

The betting platform, one of the UK’s largest, moved swiftly to address the situation. In an official statement released Thursday, the company stated: “We have permanently closed the user’s account for violating our terms and promoting harmful conduct. We stand with athletes and condemn any behavior that promotes harassment or online abuse in the name of betting.”

 

Industry experts say this incident highlights a troubling pattern. As sports betting becomes more mainstream, especially with the rise of in-play and prop bets, some fans are crossing the line — treating athletes less like competitors and more like commodities whose sole purpose is to deliver personal profit.

 

“This isn’t the first time an athlete has been targeted by gamblers who lost money,” said Dr. Karen Temple, a sports psychologist and researcher at the University of Michigan. “But what’s different now is the visibility. Social media gives bettors a direct line to athletes, and it’s creating a toxic environment.”

 

In the U.S., where betting is now legal in over 30 states, leagues and teams have begun to respond to this new reality. The NBA and NFL have both launched awareness campaigns and are investing in tools to monitor and report gambling-related abuse directed at players.

 

Athletes like Thomas are also taking a stand. She has used her platform to speak out against online abuse and advocate for better protections. “It’s fine if you want to bet,” she said in a recent interview, “but don’t forget we’re real people doing our best. What you say — and how you say it — matters.”

 

As the betting industry continues to grow, incidents like this may force companies and regulators alike to reexamine how to balance consumer engagement with ethical responsibility. For now, Thomas’s message is clear: respect the sport, respect the athletes, and don’t let your bet become someone else’s burden.

 

 

 

 

Trayvon Bromell stunned the track and field world with a blistering 9.84-second run in the men’s 100 meters at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rome on Friday night, setting a new world-leading time for 2025. Under the golden lights of the Stadio Olimpico, the American sprinter silenced any doubts about his form and fitness as he tore down the track with a performance that signaled he’s firmly back in the hunt for global gold.

 

Exploding from the blocks with razor-sharp precision, Bromell held his form through the middle phase and surged ahead in the final 30 meters, crossing the line with clear daylight between him and the rest of the field. His 9.84 not only marks the fastest time in the world this year but also serves notice to his rivals with the World Championships just weeks away.

 

“I felt something special tonight,” Bromell said in his post-race interview. “My body’s been feeling good in training, and I just needed to put it together on the track. Rome gave me that chance.”

 

Bromell’s journey back to the top has been anything but easy. Once touted as the heir to Usain Bolt’s sprinting legacy, the former world junior champion has battled through multiple injuries and surgeries since his breakthrough in 2015. But after a strong resurgence in 2021 and continued consistency, this performance may be the clearest indication yet that he’s peaking at just the right time.

 

The field in Rome was stacked with talent, including Italy’s Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs and Canada’s Andre De Grasse. But neither could match Bromell’s power and rhythm on the night. Jacobs, returning from a hamstring injury, finished a distant third in 10.05, while De Grasse managed 10.01 for second place.

 

The conditions in Rome were near perfect: a warm Mediterranean evening, slight tailwind (+1.3 m/s), and a capacity crowd buzzing with anticipation. The atmosphere crackled with energy as the sprinters took their marks, and when the gun fired, it was clear something special was unfolding.

 

Bromell’s time now places him atop the 2025 global rankings, overtaking Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who previously held the world lead with a 9.86 set in Nairobi. It also ranks as the sixth-fastest time of Bromell’s career, a remarkable statistic considering the setbacks he’s endured.

 

The victory also boosts Bromell’s standing in the Diamond League points race, giving him crucial momentum heading into the latter half of the season. With upcoming meets in Paris and London, fans are already anticipating a possible sub-9.80 performance — something Bromell has flirted with but never quite achieved.

 

More broadly, the race signals a shift in the sprinting hierarchy. While names like Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman remain in contention, Bromell’s Rome run places him at the forefront of the conversation. With the Olympics in Paris just over a year away, the battle for sprint supremacy is heating up.

 

For now, though, Rome belongs to Trayvon Bromell. And if Friday’s performance is any indication, the best may still be yet to come.

 

 

 

Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight stunned the competition at the Golden Gala in Rome on Thursday night, blazing through the 400m hurdles with a personal season’s best of 53.18 seconds. In a stacked field that included several world-class hurdlers, Knight maintained her composure through the final curve and powered down the home straight to secure a decisive win.

 

The victory marks one of the biggest wins in Knight’s senior career to date and solidifies her position as a key contender heading into the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite challenging weather conditions and stiff competition from American rivals and European hopefuls, the 27-year-old held her rhythm and displayed exceptional control over the hurdles.

 

“I’ve been working really hard to get to this point,” Knight told reporters trackside after the race. “We knew coming into Rome that it was going to be fast. I just had to stay focused and execute each phase of my race.”

 

Knight’s acceleration over the final 100 meters was particularly impressive. Coming off the eighth hurdle in third place, she surged forward with a technically clean penultimate step, timing her attack perfectly as others faded. The race dynamics mirrored her steady growth on the international circuit: quietly patient, tactically smart, and now, undeniably elite.

 

Speaking to TrackFocus in an exclusive post-race interview, Knight gave insight into the mindset and preparation behind her standout performance.

 

Q: You seemed calm and confident out there. What was going through your mind on the start line?

 

Knight: “Honestly, I was just thinking about execution. We’ve been practicing a specific pattern—especially for the first five hurdles—and my coach told me, ‘Don’t chase anyone. Run your race.’ That really stuck with me. I was calm because I trusted the work.”

 

Q: The final stretch—your finish looked very controlled. Did you feel it was your race at that point?

 

Knight: “Yes and no. I could hear the crowd and sensed someone was close, but I stayed focused on my form. The last two hurdles are where races are won or lost, so I just reminded myself to breathe, lift, and finish strong.”

 

This win in Rome adds momentum to what has already been a promising season for Knight, who trains in Florida under veteran coach Lennox Graham. With national trials looming and Olympic selection on the line, she is peaking at the right time.

 

Knight’s victory also reflects Jamaica’s growing depth in the 400m hurdles, a discipline traditionally dominated by the United States. While all eyes often turn to more established names, Knight is proving she belongs in the global conversation.

 

“This is just the beginning,” she said with a smile. “I know there’s more in the tank. We’re not at the peak yet—Paris is the goal.”

 

As the Diamond League heads into its summer stretch, one thing is clear: Andrenette Knight is no longer an underdog. She is a contender—and in Rome, she made that known loud and clear.

 

 

 

 

British sprint star Daryll Neita moved from Italy to Florida after last summer’s Olympics so she could redouble her efforts to win a first individual major medal

 

Pictured L-R: Gabby Thomas, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Tara Davis-Woodhall

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Track stars Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Tara Davis-Woodhall are investing in familiar territory.

 

What Is ATHLOS

The trio has teamed up to join the ownership group of the ATHLOS track and field league. ATHLOS, launched in 2024 by Alexis Ohanian, Reddit founder and Serena Williams‘ husband, began as an all-women’s track and field meet. According to Forbes, ATHLOS will return to New York, NY, for its 2025 meet but will scale into a full-fledged league starting next year. The team-based league’s website states that it will feature some of the fastest athletes in the world, span multiple cities, and build momentum toward a championship event.

 

“ATHLOS is shifting gears, moving from a solo spotlight to team-centered showdowns where participating athletes will compete for teams, not just times. It’s still blazing fast, but with teams to cheer for,” the website mentions.

 

ATHLOS offers $60,000 in prize money to the winner of each event across the meet, and 10% of all event revenues goes back to participating athletes, states Reuters.

 

“I asked these women, I was like, ‘Hey, so what is your top prize at the end of a season for winning?’ And they said $30,000. And I said, ‘Great, I’m going to double it for one single race,’” Ohanian told the outlet.

 

Becoming Advisor-Owners

As for Olympic sprinters Richardson and Thomas and long-jumper Davis-Woodhall, the focus of their participation for now will be to provide feedback as the league is being developed. They will also serve as advisor-owners.

 

“Gabby, Sha’Carri, and Tara represent a new generation of athletes who have put this sport on their shoulders and deserve to be compensated for being the standard-bearers,” Ohanian explained, per the Hartfort Courant. “We were focused on bringing them into the League as founding owners to ensure we’re building a League that our athletes will love.”

 

Kayla Green, Athlos chief media officer, commented, per City AM:

 

“We’re really at that stage of taking those steps to make sure that as we’re building this vision and the details around the vision, that we’re doing it with the athletes at the center.”

 

 

 

The 2025 Racers Grand Prix is poised to be a thrilling spectacle, and this year’s lineup boasts some of the most electrifying talents in sprinting. Headlining the men’s 100m is an anticipated clash between Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville, alongside rising South African star Bayanda Walaza. Adding further star power, Shericka Jackson returns to the track, bringing her elite credentials to the women’s sprints. As fans gear up for this marquee event, here’s what to expect from the sprint showdowns.

 

Kishane Thompson: The Silent Threat

 

Kishane Thompson is the name on every Jamaican sprint fan’s lips. With blistering speed and a technique honed under the guidance of some of Jamaica’s top coaches, Thompson has quietly emerged as one of the country’s fastest men. Clocking a legal 9.91s in 2023 and continuing to show strong form through the 2024 season, he enters the Grand Prix as a serious contender for the win. Thompson’s calm demeanor belies his explosive starts and powerful mid-race surge. If he gets his phases right, he could very well cross the line first and send a loud message ahead of the Paris Olympics.

 

Oblique Seville: Consistency and Championship Pedigree

 

Oblique Seville, meanwhile, is no stranger to high-level competition. A World Championship finalist and one of Jamaica’s most consistent performers on the international stage, Seville brings experience, poise, and speed. Known for his ability to stay relaxed under pressure and execute when it matters most, Seville has been working to sharpen his finish — often the difference-maker in major finals. While he’s yet to dip below the 9.80s barrier, his times consistently hover around the 9.85–9.95 range. At his best, Seville is a threat to anyone, anywhere.

 

 

 

Representing South Africa, Bayanda Walaza is the wildcard in this sprint duel. Though still a relatively new face on the senior international circuit, Walaza has shown he belongs with the best. His recent personal best of 10.00 flat raised eyebrows, and his rapid improvement suggests there’s more in the tank. Walaza may not carry the same weight of expectation as Seville or Thompson, but that could work in his favor. With nothing to lose and everything to prove, he could spring a surprise and shake up the Jamaican dominance.

 

Shericka Jackson: Queen of the Sprints

 

On the women’s side, Shericka Jackson is the undoubted star attraction. The reigning 200m world champion and one of the fastest women of all time, Jackson returns to the Racers Grand Prix with crowd support firmly behind her. After a record-breaking 2023 and a solid 2024 campaign, fans are eager to see her form heading into the final stretch before Paris. Whether she contests the 100m or 200m, Jackson’s presence guarantees fireworks. Her combination of power, speed endurance, and competitive fire makes her nearly unbeatable when in full flow.

 

 

The Racers Grand Prix has a reputation for delivering drama, fast times, and breakout performances — and 2025 is no exception. With a high-stakes showdown between Thompson, Seville, and Walaza on the men’s side, and Shericka Jackson ready to remind the world of her dominance, the stage is set for an unforgettable night in Kingston. Whether it’s a glimpse of Olympic glory to come or a new name breaking through, this Grand Prix promises to be a must-watch event for every track and field fan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rome Diamond League, also known as the Golden Gala, is one of the crown jewels of the annual World Athletics calendar. As the event returns in 2025, anticipation is high for what promises to be a thrilling showdown of elite track and field competition. With the final start lists now officially released, fans and analysts alike are gearing up for a night of top-tier performances under the Roman sky.

 

Star-Studded Lineup in the Sprints

 

The men’s 100 meters will be a highlight, featuring reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs competing on home soil. He’ll go up against American sprint sensation Christian Coleman and Africa’s rising star Ferdinand Omanyala. The women’s 100m also brings fireworks, with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, fresh off a dominant 2024 season, facing off against Dina Asher-Smith and the USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson. With sub-11 second performances almost guaranteed, this race could deliver one of the fastest times of the season.

 

Middle-Distance Mayhem

 

In the men’s 1500 meters, all eyes will be on Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who continues to redefine middle-distance running. He will be joined by Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot and Great Britain’s Josh Kerr, creating a rematch of world championship caliber. On the women’s side, Faith Kipyegon headlines the 1500m start list, where she’ll be challenged by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Ireland’s Ciara Mageean.

 

Hurdles and High Drama

 

The 400m hurdles events are packed with elite talent. Norway’s Karsten Warholm leads the men’s field, aiming to edge closer to his own world record. The USA’s Rai Benjamin and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos will offer stiff competition. In the women’s event, Femke Bol is the clear favorite, though Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and American Shamier Little could shake up the podium.

 

Meanwhile, Grant Holloway tops the men’s 110m hurdles lineup, with Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell and France’s Sasha Zhoya in pursuit. The women’s 100m hurdles will feature Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan and Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, both of whom have dominated the circuit in recent years.

 

Field Events: Strength Meets Precision

 

In the field events, the men’s pole vault will see world record holder Armand Duplantis look to clear new heights against a deep field including KC Lightfoot and Renaud Lavillenie. The women’s high jump features Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Nicola Olyslagers in what promises to be a closely contested battle.

 

The shot put circle will be stacked, with Ryan Crouser continuing his phenomenal form in the men’s event. For the women, Chase Jackson (née Ealey) leads a competitive lineup. The discus, long jump, and triple jump events also feature strong international representation, reinforcing the global appeal of the Diamond League.

 

Conclusion

 

With a mix of Olympic champions, world record holders, and breakout stars, the Rome Diamond League Golden Gala promises an unforgettable night of athletics. The final start lists suggest that nearly every event could produce season-leading performances, personal bests, and possibly even new records. As the Eternal City prepares to host one of the most prestigious meets of the season, fans worldwide can expect a spectacular showcase of athletic excellence.