The air inside the National Stadium on Sunday evening was heavy with expectation. Not the kind built on hype, but the type that comes from decades of dominance. The Jamaican trials are more than a qualifier — they are a reckoning. And this year, the final day of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships served it with unflinching clarity: no place is guaranteed, no crown permanent, and greatness is earned, not inherited.
Megan Tapper: A Warrior’s Redemption
A year ago, Megan Tapper left the track in tears. Fourth at trials. No Olympic spot. The pain was public, the doubt loud. But on Sunday, she lined up with one thing on her mind: execution.
And execute she did.
Tapper powered through the women’s 100m hurdles final with sharp rhythm and steel determination, stopping the clock at 12.34 seconds — a new personal best, and the sixth-fastest time in the world this year. From the gun to the tape, she led and never let go.
“I had to remind myself who I am,” she told the media post-race. “This is my lane. This is my time.”
Behind her, national record holder Ackera Nugent clocked 12.41s, and Amoi Brown secured third with 12.67s. All three now head to Tokyo, where they’ll join defending world champion Danielle Williams, who had a bye.
But the real story here is Tapper. Not just the time, but the courage to come back after being written off. This wasn’t just a win — it was a reclaiming.
Men’s 110m Hurdles: A Race with Shadows and Light
The men’s sprint hurdles final was dealt a gut punch before it even began. Rasheed Broadbell, Olympic bronze medallist and one of Jamaica’s top hopes, collapsed during warm-up — a chilling moment that left the stadium briefly stunned.
But the race still had to run.
Orlando Bennett, focused and measured, seized the moment. He ran 13.10s — just shy of his lifetime best — to claim his first senior national title. Demario Prince, surging late, pushed Bennett to the edge with a 13.12s PB. Tyler Mason held strong in third with 13.22s.
And then, there’s the part of the story few are highlighting.
Hansle Parchment, Olympic champion, did not make the final.
His semi-final run of 13.39s wasn’t enough. It’s a stark reminder of just how deep, and unforgiving, this event has become in Jamaica. Parchment, ever gracious, didn’t blame injury or fatigue. Sometimes, the hurdles just win.
Rusheen McDonald: At 32, The Long Game Pays Off
There was an audible gasp when Rusheen McDonald entered the final stretch of the men’s 400m… leading. Not hanging on. Not chasing. Leading.
He ran his lane with calm control and a clean final gear, clocking 44.85s — his fastest time in two years — to win his first national senior title at age 32.
In a country where youth often rules the quarter-mile, McDonald’s win was both unexpected and necessary. A reminder that perseverance has its day too.
Delano Kennedy (44.91s PB) and Jevaughn Powell (50.08s) followed. But this race belonged to a veteran who finally found peace with his race plan — and his finish.
Nickisha Pryce: Smooth, Strong, Still Queen
The women’s 400m final was all business. With 150m to go, five athletes were still in the hunt. But Nickisha Pryce, calm as always, hit another gear and clocked 49.97s to defend her title.
Dejanae Oakley and Stacey-Ann Williams were both credited with 50.087s, nearly dead heat, but Pryce never looked panicked. She trusted her strength. And it paid off.
The Throws: Finally Getting Their Moment
In a stadium built on sprint legends, the field athletes are often overlooked. Not this year.
Elvis Graham secured his sixth consecutive national javelin title with a solid 72.78m. Shaiquan Dunn, fresh from NCAA success, was untouchable in the men’s shot put, tossing 18.33m — a performance marked by consistency and confidence.
These men are building something. Quietly. But the foundation is there.
Youth Watch: Tiana, Jarrett, Malayia, and the Next Generation
If anyone needed assurance that Jamaica’s pipeline is intact, they found it in the junior events.
- Tiana Marshall held off U20 world leader Briana Campbell to win the 100m hurdles in 13.33s, equaling her PB.
- Malayia Duncan of St Jago took the U18 hurdles crown in 13.78s, showing impeccable form.
- Shavon Jarrett, the pride of Titchfield, clocked a PB 1:50.08 in the U20 800m, continuing his rise from Champs to national relevance.
- Kevongaye Fowler ran 2:10.43s to win the U18 girls’ 800m — fluid, fearless, focused.
These are names we’ll be seeing again. Sooner than later.
This year’s trials weren’t just about times and titles. They were about composure in chaos, redemption on the track, and passing the torch without fear.
Some left disappointed. Others left with purpose. The road to Tokyo is set, but the path was anything but easy.
If you understand Jamaican track and field, you know the national trials are our fiercest battleground. And on this battlefield, nothing is given. Only earned.
As we now look to Tokyo and the World Championships, one truth remains:
Jamaica doesn’t send teams. We send statements.
Let’s go again.