We would be lying if we said that we weren’t excited for Kishane Thompson’s big outdoor comeback. And with the Jamaican being his team’s anchor, everyone’s eyes were on him. But things just didn’t go as planned. From the moment he grabbed the baton, Kishane was already trailing behind the Dominicans. By the time the final whistle was up, the Jamaicans managed just 39.11s as their Caribbean rivals jogged to an easy 38.95s victory. But while the world was questioning Kishane’s form, there was one former Olympian to his rescue. But who was it?
Well, it was none other than American legend and gold medalist Justin Gatlin. Just like many others, his eyes were also on the Miramar Invitational happening in Florida. And while the competition remains an exhibition race, the critics were quick to point out Kishane’s inefficiency. Meanwhile, on the Ready Set Go Podcast, the duo of Rodney Green and Justin Gatlin were rather patient and asked the fans to hold in their panic.
“I want to talk about man; I want to talk about you; see what you think…” Rodney Green begins the conversation on April 11 with that classic coach-to-coach vibe over Jamaica’s 4x100m relay loss to the Dominican Republic in Miramar, with Kishane Thompson running the anchor leg. With Jamaica’s loss, naturally, the questions came flooding in. “I was talking to a few Jamaicans this weekend… and they were asking me what I think,” Rodney recalls.
And so Rodney continues, “And I was like, I don’t measure, and I’m going to tell you what I think, and then you tell me what you think.” So, what does the Bahamian think? Well, in his own words, “I’m happy that Sainta Domingo ran a fast time at 38.9s.” That’s a legit time for April. But then comes the kicker: “I said, you don’t read too much into that 4×1 Jamaican.” Why not? Because Jamaica didn’t have its full arsenal on the track. “Two of the fastest Jamaicans were in the Grand Slam… Oblique Seville and a Keem (Ackeem Blake).”
Both Blake and Seville are among the nation’s elite. Seville clocked 9.91s last year at the Paris Olympics and secured the 8th position in the 100m final. Blake, who also went sub-10 last season, has been Jamaica’s rising force. Missing those two is like running a relay with your B-team. “Once you add them two…what are we talking about?” he added. But what about Kishane’s leg? Why didn’t he close it out? “Kishane probably didn’t want to open up in any event, and he agreed I got to run. I want to spin my legs a little, so I’ll do the 4×1.”
This was Kishane easing into his season. Remember, he’s had injury issues before. In fact, during the Olympic semifinals last year, he pulled up and later had to withdraw from the Silesia Diamond League due to a hamstring strain. Even this year, he opened with a 6.56s at the Astana Indoor Meet, a solid time but done with visible discomfort. So Miramar was just a feel-out. Then, steps in Justin Gatlin, Olympic gold medalist and World 4x100m champion, who, with a firm voice, was nothing but supportive.
He makes his point as he says, “Fans have to realize that it’s different for professional athletes in track and field… This is the time of the season when the athletes are getting their feet wet a little.” Translation? April isn’t for fireworks, but it’s for testing the engine. “They’ve been training for a while… fixing and tweaking everything through April and then going out there in May and starting to see them put it together.”
He’s seen it all, and he’s not worried. Especially not about Kishane. “He’s just coming back into form… once again, it was a flying 100.” That’s right; relay anchor legs aren’t from a block start, and if you’re not in top form, you’re not chasing anyone down. He ends this with, “So let’s not be up in arms right now… Let that man get himself ready.” But is Kishane really fine? After all, this season already had its moments.
Kishane Thompson targets top form in 2025 after injury setbacks
Kishane Thompson’s journey hasn’t been a straight sprint; it’s had a few hurdles. From shin splints to that nagging hamstring that forced him out of the Silesia Diamond League, the 23-year-old Jamaican has had his fair share of setbacks. But guess what? He was still standing tall! In 2024, he clocked a blistering 9.77s at the Jamaican Championships, the world’s fastest 100m time of the year.
And who could forget that photo finish against Noah Lyles in the Paris Olympics? Some even thought he won! “It’s gone and passed,” Thompson told AFP. “I can’t look back. And I mean, I can reflect on my mistakes. I know what I could have done better and what I’ve done wrong, but it doesn’t help if I’m going to be angry. I’ve just got to accept it and move on. It’s moving forward from here. I should say it was a great year.”
He switched things up this season, starting indoors and winning in Astana. “It’s not perfect; the only perfection that I can see is me improving. If it’s perfect, you don’t have any room for improvement,” he said. Makes sense, right? But Jamaican had a brief injury issue after Astana, and then he was back for Miramar, although it didn’t go as planned, but Jamaican was back on track.
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