What was your overall assessment of Tokyo 2025 and also Jamaica’s performance?

Daniel Blake, sports writer: Overall, Tokyo produced some great moments and there was rarely any major mishaps from the organisers and officials. From a Jamaican perspective, to finish with 10 medals is a great achievement, especially seeing the indescribable Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (SAFP) adding to her already amazing legacy.

While we may not have collected medals in events we thought were likely, the fairly “unlikely” medals from Tajay Gayle, Orlando Bennett, and Tyler Mason certainly made the medal haul feel much better. With a little bit more luck we’d have had a few more, but we should take heart knowing we have some young, talented athletes who performed well and with enough time and the right development double-digit medal hauls might be the norm going forward.

Rachid Parchment, sports writer: It was a brilliant World [Athletics] Championships, both from a Jamaican and global perspective. It gave me hope that a new golden generation of Jamaican athletes is on the horizon and makes me optimistic for what could come in Los Angeles in just under three years. I said at the start that whether Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce medals didn’t matter to me, and it didn’t. I’m just happy she got the reception she deserved after her final race. It was poetic seeing her hand off the baton to Tia Clayton, as she’s literally and figuratively handing off the baton to the future of Jamaica’s sprinting.

Globally, it was a magical nine days seeing records fall and sportsmanship on display on a daily basis. I especially enjoyed seeing how Mondo Duplantis’s opponents celebrated with him, in spite of him winning, because they were happy he raised his pole vault world record. These nine days reminded me of why I love athletics.

Mathue Tapper, Tapp Track Academy founder, head coach: I would say this was a phenomenal championships. We showed out in areas that I don’t think we knew we had that strength in; for example, the men’s 110m hurdles. It was just phenomenal all over. I think Shelly ending her career in Tokyo was also a spectacle. Tokyo is going to be special to us, I think, for years to come. And it’s not because of grand performances, but it’s just because of what the performances meant in each situation — like Rusheen McDonald finishing fourth in the men’s 400m after having the championship that he had.

Trishana McGowan, track and field analyst: The world championships went great! Some performances on the track, the field, and the marathons were exciting. I particularly enjoyed Sydney’s [McLaughlin-Levrone] 400m performance [championship record of 47.78 seconds], also watching Navasky Anderson in the 800m final and the men’s 4x400m final.

Team Jamaica has much to be proud of, much to celebrate, and also a lot to build on for the future. Some of our young, rising stars introduced themselves to the world and others who are awaiting their opportunities. I also acknowledge the work of the coaches who have been guiding our athletes. They have shown us they have more in store for the nation.

I also have concerns for a few events but will await the time for the young athletes to matriculate on the world stage. Overall, Jamaica is still heading in the right direction.

Leighton Levy, sports writer: Given the outcome in Paris where so many athletes fell short of expectations, Tokyo helped remind our athletes of who they are — among the best in the world. Oblique Seville finally broke through to become world champion; Tina Clayton followed up on Tia’s finals appearance last year to cop silver; Orlando Bennett, and even more so Tyler Mason, demonstrated the importance of resilience and determination; and Tajay Gayle showed us all that there is always a way back to greatness. Also, let me add that Navasky Anderson’s seminal moment setting an outstanding national record in the 800m to become the only Jamaican under 1:43.00 minutes is a great achievement for him.

They didn’t win gold, but they showed us that despite the official ending of Jamaican dominance over the past two decades with the retirement of SAFP from global competition, another era of greatness beckons. Sure, there is no other like Usain Bolt, SAFP, Elaine Thompson Herah, but there will be new legacies created by the Clayton twins, Seville, Kishane Thompson, and others. In short, I feel that these championships reflect the dawning of a new age. One gold, six silver and three bronze medals was a fantastic haul of which all Jamaica should be proud.

Floyd Quarrie, QPC Sports founder and head coach: Tokyo 2025 is definitely one of my favourite World [Athletics] Championships. The competitiveness was above par. All the athletes really stamped their authority. We saw tremendous performances, world lead times, a bunch of national records being run in the heats, we’ve seen distance events being decided by photo finishes. That’s not a common occurrence. A lot of the events, you can’t call until the event is concluded. Look at the 200m men. Everyone was hemming and hawing based on performances in the previous rounds. We saw Noah Lyles take victory. The 100m men was the same. Everyone was wondering who would pop out. We’ve become accustomed to the dominance of Bolt, but I think what we have now is not a one man or one country-dominated event. It’s really competitive. The standard for all of these countries has risen to the clouds. It makes the sport a lot more exciting. It’s definitely set the standards for championships to come. Everyone is hungry for more after such an exciting championships.

I’m overall very proud of Jamaica’s performances and the athletes’ performances. As an advocate for the sport, I’m really happy at the level the sport is — the competitiveness. It makes people want to watch and witness it. That’s all that you can look for in the sport, and I’m truly a fan. I was truly satisfied, and there are downs and ups but that’s what a championships are. You’re going to have joy, you’re going to have disappointments, it’s all a part of the game.

Rachid Parchment.

Mathue Tapper.

Trishana McGowan.

Leighton Levy.

Floyd Quarrie.