Kishane Thompson became the joint-ninth fastest man in history by running the 100m in 9.77 seconds, winning the men’s 100m at the Jamaican Olympic trials on Friday.
The 22-year-old, who had not competed this season prior to the trials, is in just his second season as a professional.
His time of 9.77 seconds makes him the fourth fastest Jamaican in history, behind Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Asafa Powell.
“My coach instructed me just to run the first 60 metres, nothing more – after that, shut it down,” said Thompson.
“If I came second or third, I would’ve made the team. The goal wasn’t to prove anything tonight, just run the 70 or 60 metres and see where I was.”
In the women’s 100m, Shericka Jackson recovered from a bad start to win in 10.84 seconds ahead of rivals Tia Clayton and two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who ran 10.84secs and 10.94secs respectively.
“Coach and I sat down and talked about how we wanted the approach the season, and I think we did pretty good, having only ran one 100m prior to the national trials,” Jackson told Reuters.
Elsewhere, Grant Holloway has unfinished business in the 110m hurdles at the Games after qualifying at the US Olympic team trials in Oregon.
The 26-year-old won silver in that event at Tokyo in 2021 but was far from satisfied with finishing as runner-up.
“Do I look at it every day like it should have been mine? No. I’ve done four world championships, indoors and out, and I’ve got four gold medals. I feel like I’ve already solidified myself in that realm,” said Holloway.
Holloway aims to redeem himself in Paris, and his time of 12.86 seconds on Friday marked the fastest of his career.
He narrowly edged out competitors Freddie Crittenden and Daniel Roberts, who finished with times of 12.93 seconds and 12.96 seconds, respectively.
In the 100m hurdles event, Lolo Jones made history as the first woman over 40 to compete in the US trials.
Despite finishing last in her heat, the 41-year-old athlete, who has participated in three Games, qualified for Saturday’s semi-finals.