On Friday night at the JAAA/Puma National Senior Championships, Tina Clayton blazed to a lifetime best of 10.81 seconds to claim her first national 100m title.
The MVP Track Club athlete, long seen as the quieter half of the celebrated Clayton twins, finally seized her moment.
Having watched her sister, Tia Clayton, dazzle on the circuit last season, Tina revealed that the performances served as the fuel behind her remarkable breakthrough.
“I saw how my sister performed last year, and it motivated me. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights, but I am now happy. I just want to stay focused and healthy for the World Championships,” a visibly emotional Clayton shared after her emphatic victory.
“You have to have faith in God because it’s sometimes very testing,” she added.
While the buildup to the final had largely centered on a heavyweight clash between Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, it was Clayton’s fearless composure and clinical execution that stole the spotlight. Jackson, ever the competitor, finished second in 10.88 seconds, while Fraser-Pryce clocked a season-best 10.91 to round out the podium.
Clayton’s win punched her ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships and placed her firmly in Jamaica’s long tradition of sprint royalty. She now joins Jackson, Fraser-Pryce, Jodean Williams, and Jonielle Smith as athletes who’ve met the qualifying mark for this summer’s global showpiece, with official selections pending ratification by World Athletics.