Jamaica’s relay ambitions took a bruising hit at the recent World Athletics Relays, but the story is far from over. The island nation, known globally for sprinting dominance through legends like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Elaine Thompson-Herah, reeled when their men’s 4x100m relay squad failed to make the final at the 2025 World Athletics Relays.
A baton exchange blunder between Julian Forte and Yohan Blake saw the team tumble from contention, ultimately finishing 11th in their heat — a result that denied them automatic qualification for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Yet, the World Athletics ranking system still offers Jamaica a route to the global stage, keeping their hopes alive.
The Rankings Race
Currently, Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team sits 11th among the non-automatic qualifiers. To secure a Tokyo berth, they must climb into the top two positions within the ranking period, needing to outpace Brazil’s time of 38.40 seconds to stay in contention.
It’s not just the men’s sprint team feeling the heat. The women’s 4x400m squad is also chasing qualification, aiming to better the Czech Republic’s 3:25.31, while the mixed relay team, with a season-best of 3:14.42, finds itself in a similarly tight battle.
With the qualification window closing on August 25, 2025, every opportunity counts — and that makes the upcoming NACAC Championships, set for August 15-17 in Nassau, a critical proving ground.
A Chance for Redemption
The North American, Central American, and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships are not just another regional meet — they’re a golden opportunity for teams like Jamaica’s to reclaim lost ground. More than ranking points are at stake; it’s a chance to rewrite the narrative of a disappointing World Relays campaign.
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) expects to field their strongest possible relay squads, knowing what’s on the line. Young talent Kishane Thompson, a 23-year-old sprint sensation, will be central to these hopes. Baton mishaps kept Thompson on the sidelines and denied him the chance to race, even though the World Relays team named him. The NACAC Championships could offer him a career-defining moment to lead the nation’s sprint revival.
Painful Lessons from the World Relays
Misfortune marred Jamaica’s World Relays campaign. In the men’s 4x100m, all started well with Rohan Watson providing a strong opening leg. But a critical baton exchange between Julian Forte and Yohan Blake fell apart — a moment that flipped their position from second to near-last in a heartbeat. To make matters worse, Forte appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in the repechage round, collapsing mid-race before the baton could even reach Blake.
It meant that for a second straight day, Kishane Thompson never got to touch the baton, witnessing his team’s Tokyo hopes unravel from the sidelines.
A Race Against Time
Now, it’s all about making every second count. Post-NACAC, opportunities to boost rankings will be scarce. The NACAC Championships are a final chance for redemption.
As 37 nations gather at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the competition will be fierce. Jamaica’s rich sprinting heritage and the hunger of a new generation ensure they remain firmly in contention.
The clock is ticking, but Jamaica’s sprinters have made careers out of defying odds. The question now is: can they do it again in Nassau?
