For decades, track and field has thrived on iconic rivalries, and none more electrifying than Team USA versus Team Jamaica.
At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, it was the Americans who took center stage. Noah Lyles dominated with gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Sha’Carri Richardson mirrored that brilliance on the women’s side, clinching the 100m title and anchoring the 4x100m relay to victory.
But if the latest performances out of Kingston are any indication, 2025 might just be the year Jamaica flips the script.
A New Jamaican Wave Rising
The 2025 track season has seen Jamaica reload with a fiery mix of seasoned champions and fresh-faced stars. Sprint icons Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson are back in contention, joined by rising stars Tina Clayton, Tia Clayton, and Kishane Thompson. After a stellar showing at the JAAA National Championships, the island nation looks primed to reclaim its sprint supremacy.
It’s a sharp contrast to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Team USA cleaned up with a whopping 34 track and field medals. But Jamaica wasn’t at full strength then. Injuries sidelined Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah early, and Jackson was forced out mid-competition.
With Jamaica’s big names absent, Team USA cruised to a largely uncontested victory. Now, with both nations fully loaded for the upcoming World Championships, the playing field looks much different.
Men’s 100m: Kishane Thompson Lights It Up
The men’s 100m battle is shaping into a thriller. Kishane Thompson exploded to a world-leading 9.75s at the Jamaican trials the fastest legal time since Usain Bolt’s retirement.
Not far behind, teammates Oblique Seville (9.83) and Ackeem Blake (9.88) also dipped under 10 seconds, underlining Jamaica’s depth.
Meanwhile, the American sprint camp is showing cracks. Noah Lyles hasn’t raced a 100m all season, Christian Coleman has run seven races without a win, and Fred Kerley has had inconsistent results, including losses at key Diamond League meets. The lone bright spot is on Kenny Bednarek, who’s undefeated in his 100m and 200m outings this year.
Women’s 100m: Jamaican Legends and New Faces
On the women’s side, it’s a similar story. Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning world champion, has struggled in 2025, managing just one 100m race, a disappointing fifth-place finish in 11.47s. That’s a world away from the 10.65s she clocked in Budapest.
In contrast, Jamaica’s Tina Clayton made a statement by winning the national title in 10.81s, with Fraser-Pryce (10.88) and Jackson (10.91) hot on her heels. The depth and form of the Jamaican squad are turning heads, and raising alarms in the American camp.
Women’s 200m: A Battle Rekindled
The women’s 200m will see Shericka Jackson, the defending world champion, back in action after missing Paris. While Gabby Thomas capitalized on Jackson’s absence last season, this year promises a fierce showdown.
Adding intrigue is Ashanti Moore, who secured her ticket to the World Championships with a victory at the Jamaican trials.
Fortunately for the Americans, Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden are showing solid 200m form, suggesting this one might come down to the wire.
Hurdles and New Jamaican Threats
In the men’s 110m hurdles, America’s Grant Holloway, usually a consistent gold medal favorite, has faltered, placing 10th in Xiamen, 5th in Paris, and 2nd in Ostrava. Meanwhile, Orlando Bennett has emerged for Jamaica with a winning 13.10s run.
On the women’s side, Megan Tapper stunned by claiming the national title in 12.34s, toppling national record-holder Ackera Nugent. Jamaica’s momentum extends beyond sprints into hurdles, spelling more trouble for the Americans.
With Jamaica’s resurgence in full flight and Team USA facing form questions across key events, the 2025 World Championships promise to deliver one of the most captivating chapters in this storied rivalry.
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