TOKYO, Japan — Jamaica’s medal tally at the World Athletics Championships grew to eight on Friday with the addition of two bronze medals – one from a young sprinter stepping into his power on the global stage, the other from a battle-worn star, who even below her brilliant best, still found a way to deliver.

Bryan Levell and Shericka Jackson wrestled their way to the men’s and women’s 200m podium, respectively, in what was — in both cases — a real dogfight for the medals.

Triple jump hopeful Jordan Scott could not turn his breakthrough season into a medal-winning one this time around, finishing fifth in the medal round, while Shiann Salmon also found the going tough in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Still, it was an overall positive day for Jamaica, whose medal tally now stands at 1 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals, which has helped to push the team up to second in the placing table.

One could cover all four sprinters with a blanket — it was that close, as Levell showed poise and maturity beyond his years to hold off the challenge of Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (19.65 seconds), while following gold medal winner Noah Lyles, 19.52, and silver medal winner Kenny Bednarek, 19.58; as the 21-year-old posted a personal best 19.64 for third place, in one of the races of the championship.

Levell, generally a man of few words, expressed satisfaction and pride in his performance, which not only returned a Jamaican man to the 200m podium for the first time in 10 years at the World Championships, but also catapulted him into the number three spot, as the fastest times ever recorded by a Jamaican in the event.

“I am satisfied, I gave my best, I got a personal best, I have nothing to feel ashamed of or disappointed about,” said Levell. “It’s a good feeling, I am a part of Jamaican history in the 200m, so it really means a lot to me.”

Jackson, a consistent medal winner for Jamaica and one of the country’s most accomplished athletes in history, has been plagued by injuries for the past two seasons – missing out on competing at last year’s Olympic Games as a result.

She had to summon every ounce of her champion’s spirit, as she held off a determined Anavia Battle, to take third place in 22.18 seconds, finishing behind Brit Amy Hunt, 22.14, and freshly minted sprint double champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who clocked a world leading 21.68 seconds for the gold medal.

“Tonight I just came out here to do my best, put the pieces together and I was able to get a bronze medal and I am grateful,” said Jackson, who was a picture of joy throughout her post-race celebrations — a stark contrast to the crestfallen figure she presented, after her 100m fourth-place disappointment.

“Honestly after the 100m I cried, I was heartbroken but then I remembered that I needed to pat myself on the shoulder because to be able to run 10.898 even though I didn’t get a medal, I think I did really well.”

Jackson, who is still working her way back from pulling both hamstrings and a quad, says she is learning to appreciate her fight.

“It has been a rough journey, especially from last year. I have said that this year is a faithful year for me after last year’s disappointment, after not competing at the Olympics at all. I think I have recovered well from such a bad injury last year and as I said, I pat myself on the shoulder,” Jackson said.

For Scott, who was pushing to become Jamaica’s first medallist in the men’s triple jump, things just wouldn’t fall into place, and in the end, the ever-improving jumper had to settle for fifth with a mark of 17.21m.

“I am grateful to come out healthy. Obviously not the performance I would like to have had but I can’t complain; I came fifth in the world. I know there is obviously more in the tank; a bit of disappointment there, but I mean, it is what it is, I just have to take this and move forward and see what we can do next year,” said Scott.

The event was won by Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, who stamped his class with a world-leading 17.91m jump on his final attempt to reclaim the gold medal position from Italy’s Andrea Dellavalle, who jumped a personal best 17.46m on his last attempt to temporarily take top spot — eventually settling for the silver; with third place going to Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez, 17.49m — a season’s best.

Things also proved difficult for Shiann Salmon in the women’s 400m hurdles final, after an eighth-place finish in a time of 56.27 seconds.

The event was won by Femke Bol (Netherlands) in a world leading 51.54 seconds, ahead of American Jasmine Jones, 52.08, and Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova, 53.00.

Meanwhile, 800m athlete Natoya Goule-Toppin, faded in the last 80m of her semi-final, dropping from second to fifth and crossing the line in a time of 1:59.58, bringing an end to her campaign in Tokyo.

Action turns to the qualification for the men’s discus and women’s shot put competitions as well as the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Ralford Mullings has a shot at a medal in the discus event, where Chad Wright will also feature, while Lloydrica Cameron will represent in the women’s shot put.

From left: United States’ Kenneth Bednarek, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell, United States’ Noah Lyles and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo compete in the men’s 200m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Friday. (Photo: AFP)

Kishane Thompson (left) and Rohan Watson of Jamaica practise baton exchange for the men’s 4x100m event in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Shiann Salmon of Jamaica runs in the women’s 400m hurdles final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)