What are your thoughts on the men’s and women’s 200m finals on Friday?

Leighton Levy, sports writer: Both races lived up to expectations. Bryan Levell officially arrived on the world stage with a composed personal best under pressure from two of the best sprinters of this era. He will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. To run times of 19.84, 19.78 and 19.64 in his first global competition speaks to his immense talent and indicates that he is perhaps the fastest Jamaican in the world this year. If not, indications are that it won’t be very long before he is. Shericka Jackson must be commended for winning bronze, considering that she was way off her best this season, recovering from the injuries that kept her out of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. To medal in a stacked event while on her way back to her elite performances speaks to her incredible resilience and talent. It is just a matter of time before she gets back to being the woman we all saw dominate the 200m in 2022 and 2023. Kudos to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who is on track to emulate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s accomplishment of winning the sprint treble in Moscow in 2013. I must also take my hat off to Noah Lyles on winning his fourth World 200m title and establishing himself as among the best ever sprinters to run the deuce.

Daniel Blake, sports writer: I had both to finish with a silver medal but given the context of both their careers, bronze is a great achievement. Bryan (Levell), at 21, competing against three of the world’s best in Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Letsile Tebogo, and coming away with one of the fastest times in history is fantastic.

Shericka [Jackson] bouncing back fromher 2024 setbacks to be on the podium again should give her loads of confidence going forward.

Noah once again proved he’s arguably the second-greatest 200m runner of all time, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is quickly becoming one of the greats across both sprints.

Rachid Parchment, sports writer: I thought Levell had a good shot at the gold, despite such a strong field in the final. However, despite the bronze, he pushed Lyles and Bednarek right to the end and also showed his class against the Olympic champion, Tebogo. A bronze in his first final at this level is a proud feat and I’m excited to see where he goes from here. I think he only gets faster, and that means exciting times for Jamaica’s men’s sprinting pool.

As for Shericka, I know she wanted the gold but given the injury setbacks of last season and how they challenged her this season, it’s a proud bronze that I’m sure means the world to her. A gutsy performance throughout all six races, including the 100m, and I’m proud of her. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was just sublime all season long, and young legs beat experience in the end.

It was nice seeing the elation on [Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s] Amy Hunt’s face after she took the silver. No one gave her a chance, yet here she is on the podium. These underdog stories are one of the reasons I love global athletics. It’s also a reminder to all that the sport exists outside of Jamaica and the United States, as sometimes we get a bit insular with our attention.

As for Noah Lyles, yes, he’s a polarising figure but he’s great for the sport. I actually love when he runs his mouth because he makes the sport interesting. He will always have my respect because he talks a big game but always delivers. You can’t knock him for that.

Trishana McGowan, track and field analyst: Team Jamaica closed out day seven with two medals from the 200m, which was great!

Bryan Levell, at his second major championship and his first senior final, crossed the line in 19.64s to claim a massive bronze at 21 years old.

The final consisted of previous World and Olympic champions, which all posed challenges, but he held on to medal. This was Jamaica’s first men’s 200m medal since 2016.

Shericka Jackson returned from injuries that had caused her to pull from the Olympic double in 2024 to earn herself a bronze medal.

The type of injuries and setbacks could have derailed her further so I’m happy she was able to return and walk away with something individually.

Daniel Blake

Rachid Parchment

Trishana McGowan