JAMAICANS Nia Robinson and Travis Williams achieved their maiden professional indoor wins after taking the women’s long jump and men’s 60m titles, respectively, at the Tampere Indoor Meeting in Finland on Wednesday.

The professional indoor season picked up intensity last weekend as a number of events were held across Europe, with the World Athletics Indoor Tour series set to get underway this coming weekend. Athletes are stepping up preparation for the World Athletics Indoor Championships to be held in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, in March.

Robinson, a former Juco standout at Barton Community College, also competed at South Florida and the University of Arkansas. On Wednesday she won the women’s long jump with 6.46m which was achieved in the final round.

The former Rusea’s High student trailed Finland’s Taika Koilahti going into the final round when she produced her best jump of the day.

Koilahti was second with 6.36m, while Hungary’s Petra Beata Banhidi-Farkas was third with 6.11m.

Williams, the former Meadowbrook High ISSA Athletics Championships Boys Class 1 finalist, ran a season’s best 6.67 seconds to win the men’s 60m. He was just ahead of Slovenia’s Anej Curin Prapotnik (6.68) and Great Britain’s David Morgan-Harrison (6.69).

Williams, who also attended the University of Albany, had won his preliminary heat in 6.71.

Elsewhere, former World Indoor 60m bronze medallist Ackeem Blake and two-time World Athletics Championships gold medallist Danielle Williams will be among a number of Jamaicans participating in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on Saturday. The event is the first World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting of the year.

Blake, who was second in the men’s 60m in Boston in 2024, is the pre-event favourite. He is to clash with American Jordan Anthony and Terrence Jones of The Bahamas.

Williams and Megan Simmons are down to contest the women’s 60m hurdles. Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas and Gabby Cunningham of the United States are also expected to feature.

Brianna Lyston is down to contest the women’s 60m in which she is to face off against Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith.

— Paul A Reid