Jamaica’s dominance on the track continues to evolve in fresh ways. On day four of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the men’s 110m hurdles final became a showcase of grit, growth, and glory for the island.
Double Podium in the 110m Hurdles
The world watched as Orlando Bennett, 24, surged to a personal best 13.08 seconds to seize the silver medal. Just strides behind, Tyler Mason, 29, produced his best-ever run of 13.12 seconds, equalling his lifetime mark to clinch the bronze.
Both athletes, overlooked in pre-championship chatter, rose through the rounds with composure and delivered when it mattered most. Their medals mark a breakthrough—Bennett and Mason’s first at the senior global level, following earlier successes as World Under-20 silver medalists.
The gold went to the United States’ Cordell Tinch, who stormed home in 12.99 seconds, but the Jamaican duo’s fearless display signaled that the black, green, and gold has carved a powerful foothold in sprint hurdling.
Orlando Bennett: A Star Rising
For Bennett, the race was career-defining. Cutting his previous best from 13.09s to 13.08s, he stood tall among the world’s best on athletics’ grandest stage. His silver reflects Jamaica’s growing depth in the hurdles and the hunger of a generation unwilling to settle for being “just sprinters.”
Tyler Mason: Belonging Among the Elite
At 29, Mason silenced doubters. Clocking 13.12s for the third time in his career, he proved consistency is no accident. His bronze medal underlines years of perseverance and positions him firmly among the world’s elite. For a man who had never before medaled on this stage, the moment was defining—a reward for resilience.
A Strong Team Effort Beyond the Hurdles
The Championships have been more than hurdles for Jamaica:
- Rusheen “Big Bwoy” McDonald, at 33, roared back to his best in the men’s 400m, posting 44.04s for second in his semifinal. It was his third-fastest time ever, punching his ticket to the final and proving that experience still counts.
- Stacey-Ann Williams battled hard in the women’s 400m, finishing fifth in her semifinal with 50.39s. While not advancing, her effort showed determination worth celebrating.
- Shanieka Ricketts advanced to her sixth World Championship final in the triple jump. Calling it “a blessing,” she underscored her reputation for consistency at the elite level, while encouraging teammate Akelia Smith to bounce back in the final.
- Nickisha Pryce, national champion and record holder, advanced to the women’s 400m final with a season’s best 49.46s, carrying Jamaica’s hopes in a marquee showdown.
- Romaine Beckford, despite clearing 2.25m in the prelims, fell short in the men’s high jump final, unable to clear the opening height of 2.20m.
- Bovel McPherson, still only beginning to tap his potential, clocked a strong performance to finish sixth in the men’s 400m semifinals and looks ahead to Jamaica’s 4x400m relay challenge.
Medal Table Impact
With Bennett’s silver and Mason’s bronze, Jamaica’s tally climbed to five medals in Tokyo:
- 1 Gold – Oblique Seville (men’s 100m)
- 3 Silver – Kishane Thompson (men’s 100m), Tina Clayton (women’s 100m), Orlando Bennett (men’s 110m hurdles)
- 1 Bronze – Tyler Mason (men’s 110m hurdles)
This medal count places Jamaica fourth on the championship table, highlighting a team delivering across sprints, hurdles, and jumps.
The Bigger Picture
Jamaica’s Tokyo success proves once again that the nation is no one-trick pony in athletics. Once renowned almost exclusively for flat sprints, the island now boasts world-class hurdlers, quarter-milers, and field athletes. The message is clear: Jamaica is diversifying, expanding, and excelling.
For Bennett and Mason, their medals are more than podium finishes—they are symbols of Jamaica’s next wave in the hurdles, proving that the island’s track and field story is still being written.
Black, green, and gold shines bright in Tokyo—and the best may yet be to come. 🇯🇲