SO DEM SEY!

Trishana McGowan,

This event is so wide open this season. My picks coming into the championships were Fred Kerley for the gold, followed by Zharnel Hughes (if he doesn’t false start) and Rohan Watson — I love an underdog story. After the heats, I still believe it’s wide open and hope a Jamaican is on the podium. My picks now are: first, Noah Lyles; second, Oblique Seville; third, Fred Kerley.

Andre Lowe, Sports Journalist

I certainly wasn’t expecting Oblique Seville to match his personal best (9.86s) in the heats, but I have been hearing positive things and he seems ready for his first medal. Interestingly, his coach, Glen Mills, told me in 2021— just before his senior team debut at the Tokyo Olympics — that he would be ready to challenge for a medal at this point in the programme and here we are. I expect Oblique to take the silver medal behind his training partner Zharnel Hughes, with Fred Kerley looking like the likely third-place finisher. Hughes can win in 9.7 seconds high, Seville will lower his PB to 9.8 low, and Kerley will hover in the 9.8 region as well.

Daveon Nugent, Sports Producer

This men’s 100 metres final will be one of the most unpredictable in recent times as no one has really been able to separate themselves from the field; however, after the heats, I have to admit that Oblique Seville looks really good, and if he can execute in the final, he could be amongst the medals. The world-leader Zharnel Hughes also looks really good, while the American charge will be led by the defending champion Fred Kerley who will have his teammates Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles for company. The young up-and-comers in Letsile Tebogo, Ryiem Forde, and Rohan Watson could upset the apple cart if they make the final. I am looking forward to a close race, with a dip and a lean deciding the final medal placings.

Donald Smith, International Athletics Commentator

2017 was the last time that Jamaica had a medal in the men’s 100m at a World Championships. That was Usain Bolt’s last hurrah, where he got a bronze. The Americans swept the medals in 2022, but 2023 won’t see a repeat of that in my estimation. Oblique Seville, who was cool and easy in equalling his PB of 9.86s in the heats, is one-up already over the defending champion Fred Kerley who he’ll face in semi-final three again today. That time done by Seville leads all qualifiers, with the next best being 9.95 by Lyles and 9.97 by Akani Simbine. I believe the following athletes are in poll position to be in the final: Oblique Seville, Ferdinand Omanlaya, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Zharnel Hughes, Christian Coleman, Akani Simbine, and Letsile Tebogo. Of the names not mentioned, Jamaica’s Ryiem Forde and Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown are the most likely to take a spot in the final over any of the eight mentioned. Rohan Watson could still be a factor, after all Stephen Francis knows exactly how to get his charges to click when it matters most. My top three (not in finishing order): Oblique Seville, Zharnel Hughes, and Fred Kerley.