The 2025 Racers Grand Prix lit up the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 7, as Olympic and world medalists brought the crowd to its feet with explosive performances..
In one of the most anticipated events of the evening, the men’s 100m, Jamaica’s sprint titans clashed in a showdown packed with speed and intensity.
Kishane Thompson, who narrowly missed gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, outpaced the reigning champion Oblique Seville to win the race in a blistering 9.88 seconds. Seville settled for second place, while South Africa’s Gift Leotlela secured third with a sharp 10.04.
Just outside the podium, 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza of South Africa impressed with a solid fourth-place finish. He clocked 10.06. Despite missing out on podium, Walaza was upbeat and deeply reflective about his experience on the big stage.
“I feel very great, it feels like an honour, you know,” Walaza said moments after the race. “I’m excited about today and I’ve learnt the hard way. I’m excited to know how it feels to be in the game, to know how it feels to line up with great people.”
Though it was his debut on such a major international stage, the teenager showed remarkable maturity.
“I believe this was a good race and I did my best. I got discipline and I take it as a route of learning,” he added.
Walaza’s performance in the Racers Grand Prix placed him ahead of seasoned sprinters, including Jamaica’s Rohan Watson (10.27), the USA’s Pjai Austin (10.31), and Bahamian Terrence Jones Jr. (10.44), in a race that demonstrated the depth of global sprinting talent.
