KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Jamaica's Oblique Seville ran the
fastest 100 meters in the world this year, 9.82 seconds, to defeat reigning
world champion Noah Lyles on Saturday at the Racer Grand Prix meet.

The 23-year-old shocked himself with the effort, aided by a tailwind of 0.9
m/sec, to break his prior personal best of 9.86 and dominate American star
Lyles, who crossed the line next in 9.85, just off his best of 9.83.

"I feel good," Seville said. "I'm a little surprised. It's special to be able
to run so fast without too much specific work. It shows that I can still do
better."

The Jamaican is coached by Glen Mills, former mentor of legend Usain Bolt,
for whom Jamaica has been looking for an heir since his 2017 retirement.

Seville collected places of honor during the last major championships: fourth
in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics and in the 100m at the Worlds in
2022 and 2023.

His clear race allowed him to tame Lyles, to whom he gave a defiant look at
the line. The two sprinters ran significantly faster than the best prior 2024
time, 9.93 by Americans Christian Miller and Kendal Williams.

Lyles won titles in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay in last year's Worlds at
Budapest and is considered a major favorite for the Paris Olympics.

Saint Lucia athlete Julien Alfred, 22, also achieved a 2024 world-best
performance in the women's 100m in 10.78 with a 1.3 m/s wind.

The 60m indoor world champion showed her ability to contend for gold in
France.

Jamaican 19-year-old Jaydon Hibbert, the junior world record holder, soared
17.75m to win the triple jump (-0.7 m/s wind) to establish the best world
mark this year.

World 60m hurdles indoor champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas won the 100
hurdles in 12.64 (1 m/s wind) and American Trey Cunningham took the 110m
hurdles in 13.12 (0.8 m/s).