Jamaican sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent heads into this weekend’s National Senior Championships as the overwhelming favourite in the women’s 100-metre hurdles, following a blistering season marked by consistency and world-class performances.
Nugent, one of the brightest stars on the Jamaican track circuit this year, has turned heads with her impressive showings at both the Grand Slam Track Series and the Diamond League. Just last Friday, she underlined her status as the country’s top sprint hurdler, clocking a season’s best 12.30 seconds to finish third at the Paris Diamond League, the fastest time by a Jamaican woman over the hurdles this season.
The 2023 national champion is yet to finish outside the top three in any of her races this year, making her the clear favourite to retain her title at the National Senior Championships. A year ago, Nugent upstaged Danielle Williams and Janeek Brown to claim her maiden senior national crown, improving on her second-place finish the year before.
Now, with Williams receiving an automatic berth to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as the reigning world champion, the race is on to secure the remaining three spots.
Among those expected to challenge Nugent is 2021 Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper, who missed the podium last year but has shown solid form this season. Tapper holds Jamaica’s second-fastest time this year (12.50s) and peaks at Nationals when it matters most.
The battle for the other qualifying places promises drama, particularly after a major setback for collegiate standout Habibah Harris. An injury during a 4x100m relay forced Harris, unbeaten in NCAA and ranked fourth-fastest Jamaican (12.62), to withdraw from the Division One Championships.
Other contenders include World Indoor representative Amoi Brown, who has had a quiet outdoor season so far but could deliver a surprise, and NCAA campaigners Marissa Simpson (12.81) and Oneika Wilson (12.94). Crystal Morrison (12.94), Kerrica Hill (12.96), and Demisha Roswell (12.96) also remain in the mix for top-three finishes.
While the depth of talent promises an exciting showdown for the Tokyo-bound spots, all eyes will be on Nugent as she aims to secure back-to-back national titles and cement her status as Jamaica’s premier sprint hurdler.
