Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (front) of the United States poses with the new World Athletics Championships record after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
by sportswriters Wang Zijiang and Yue Chenxing
TOKYO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Jamaica's Oblique Seville and American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden were crowned the world's fastest man and woman after storming to 100m titles at the World Athletics Championships on Sunday.
Seville clocked a personal-best 9.77 seconds, finishing ahead of compatriot Kishane Thompson (9.82) and defending Olympic and world champion Noah Lyles of the United States (9.89), who took silver and bronze.
The 24-year-old's breakthrough marked Jamaica's first men's 100m world title since Usain Bolt's 2016 victory, and his own maiden global gold, following eighth place at the 2024 Paris Olympics and fourth at both the 2022 and 2023 worlds.
"It's an incredible feeling to bring the gold back to Jamaica," Seville said. "Winning in front of Usain here in Tokyo, with his coach as mine, makes this moment truly special. I've shown I'm a true champion."
Jefferson-Wooden, 25, captured her first individual global crown in the women's 100m, setting a championship record of 10.61 seconds to eclipse Sha'Carri Richardson's 10.65 mark from 2023.
A bronze medalist in Paris and a key member of the U.S. 4x100m relay teams that won the last two world and Olympic titles, she outpaced Jamaica's Tina Clayton (10.76) and Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia (10.84).
"This is the moment I've dreamed of," Jefferson-Wooden said. "Everything I've worked for this year has paid off."
Jamaica's sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a 10-time world champion, finished sixth in her ninth and final world championships in 11.03.
Elsewhere on Sunday, France's Jimmy Gressier produced a stunning late surge in the men's 10,000m, overtaking Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha in the final meters to win gold in a season-best 28:55.77. Kejelcha took silver in 28:55.83, while Sweden's Andreas Almgren earned bronze in 28:56.02.
In the field events, American Valarie Allman finally captured world championship gold in the women's discus with a throw of 69.48 meters. The two-time Olympic champion and 2023 world silver medalist beat Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands (67.50) and Cuba's Silinda Morales (67.25).
In the women's long jump, Tara Davis-Woodhall of the United States leapt 7.13 meters to secure gold, ahead of Germany's Malaika Mihambo (6.99) and Colombia's Natalia Linares (6.92).
The morning session featured high drama in the women's marathon, where Tokyo Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya outdueled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa to win in 2:24:43. The pair broke away before 30km, with Assefa launching an attack at 250 meters. Jepchirchir responded with a decisive surge on the final bend. Uruguay's Julia Paternain claimed bronze, earning her country's first-ever athletics world championships medal. ■
Gold medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (R) of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Players react before the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Gold medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (R) of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Gold medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Gold medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (L) of the United States crosses the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (bottom) of the United States crosses the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (R) of the United States crosses the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (bottom) of the United States crosses the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Players cross the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (C) of the United States celebrates after the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (C) of the United States competes during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (C) of the United States crosses the finish line during the women's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Gold medalist Oblique Seville (C) of Jamaica, silver medalist Kishane Thompson (L) of Jamaica and bronze medalist Noah Lyles of the United States pose after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Letsile Tebogo (R) of Botswana makes a false start during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica celebrates after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Gold medalist Oblique Seville (C) of Jamaica, silver medalist Kishane Thompson (R) of Jamaica and bronze medalist Noah Lyles of the United States pose after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica celebrates after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica, Kenneth Bednarek of the United States and Kishane Thompson of Jamaica (from L to R) compete during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (front R) makes a false start during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica, Kenneth Bednarek of the United States, Kishane Thompson of Jamaica and Noah Lyles of the United States (from L to R) compete during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica gestures before the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Kishane Thompson (2nd R) of Jamaica competes during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica gestures before the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Gold medalist Oblique Seville (C) of Jamaica, silver medalist Kishane Thompson (R) of Jamaica and bronze medalist Noah Lyles of the United States celebrate after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Oblique Seville of Jamaica, Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, Kenneth Bednarek of the United States and Noah Lyles of the United States (L-R) compete during the men's 100m final during the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Oblique Seville (L) of Jamaica celebrates after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Oblique Seville (front L) of Jamaica takes a selfie with spectators after the men's 100m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
