Jamaica’s two-time World Championship finalist Oblique Seville and reigning Olympic champion Noah Lyles will renew their rivalry this afternoon in the men’s 100 metres at the 13th stop of the Wanda Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Seville, one of eight Jamaicans down to compete, enters the clash with confidence, having already beaten Lyles this season at the London Diamond League. On that occasion, he clocked 9.86 seconds to Lyles’ 10.00 flat. The 23-year-old Jamaican sprinter also holds a 2–1 lead in their head-to-head, having defeated the American at last year’s Racers Grand Prix in Kingston before Lyles turned the tables at the Paris Olympics, where Seville had to settle for eighth place.
Today’s sprint will miss the anticipated presence of world leader and Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson, who withdrew with a shin issue. Still, the field remains stacked, with fellow Jamaican Akeem Blake, Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, American Courtney Lindsey, and South Africa’s Diamond League leader Akani Simbine all set to feature.
On the women’s side, national record holder Ackera Nugent and reigning Jamaican champion Megan Taper will contest the 100m hurdles, which boasts another world-class lineup. Among the challengers are world leader Masai Russell of the United States, Nigeria’s world record holder Tobi Amusan, American Alaysha Johnson, and the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser.
Jamaica’s representation in Lausanne also extends to the field events, where Carey McLeod and 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle will compete in the men’s long jump against Olympic silver medalist Wayne Pinnock. Meanwhile, Turkish thrower and former Jamaican representative Rajindra Campbell will line up in the men’s shot put.
