FOLLOWING his impressive victory over reigning American sprint double world champion Noah Lyles at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville has fired warning shots at his American opponents, declaring that the country’s male sprinters will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Seville, 22, stunned Lyles in the men’s 100m, clocking a personal best time of 9.82 seconds to win the event at the National Stadium. He surpassed his previous best of 9.86 seconds and took over the world lead from American Christian Miller, who ran 9.93 seconds in April. Lyles was second with his season’s best effort of 9.85, and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished third in 10.02.

Seville, who is guided by Glen Mills, the former coach of legendary retired Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at Racers Track Club, told the
Jamaica Observer that he hopes his performance will serve as a strong warning.

“Back then, with Usain Bolt and the others, you know the showboating that we usually do — you have to show the Americans that Jamaica is still up with the sprinting and so that was the reason I did that [looked across to rivals] at the end,” Seville said.

He noted that he was very surprised by his 9.82 clocking, and is confident he can run much faster. “Obviously I slowed down and looked across so, of course, I can go much faster. I just have to be more technical in my race through the phases, and be more patient, and run through the line.”

In the build-up to the clash between the two sprinters Lyles had promised not only to better his personal best of 9.83 but also to break the National Stadium record of 9.75 set by former world champion Yohan Blake in 2012.

Oblique Seville (right) motors away from Noah Lyles (left) and Zharnel Hughes in the men’s 100m race during the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Jamaica on Saturday. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

However, Seville had other ideas for the American.

He flew out of the blocks and eased down close to the finish line while glancing at Lyles over his shoulder as he crossed the line, much to the delight of the mostly Jamaican fans inside the National Stadium.

With the National Championships just over three weeks away Seville said that once he stays healthy, fans can expect another stellar performance from him. “I am surprised with the time, even though I have had little ups and downs, but I am fine now. My mindset is just to stay injury free — with God’s grace and mercy — and to perform when the day comes at trials.

“I just came out here to deliver in front of my Jamaican fans because you have to understand that you are going to have ups and downs with the wind and so you just have to run through it. I know that as long as I am injury-free then I am expecting good things from myself at the trials,” Seville reasoned.

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville poses beside the leader board after the men’s 100m race during the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Jamaica on Saturday.

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville poses beside the leader board after the men’s 100m race during the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Jamaica on Saturday.