LONDON FIREWORKS!

Race winner Oblique Seville celebrates as he crosses the finish in the men’s 100m during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting, at the London stadium, in England, on July 19, 2025. Photo: AFP Oblique seeks revenge vs Ajayi in Diamond League 100m World leader Oblique Seville is looking to avenge his most recent loss when he lines up in the men’s 100m during the Novuna London Athletics Meet at the Olympic Stadium, the 11th stop in the 14-stage Wanda Diamond League series. The World Athletics Championships gold medallist was second to Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, two weeks ago, and will want to make amends on Saturday. Seville had rebounded to win at the Monaco Diamond League and is hoping for back-to-back victories in the series. He is to line up against Ajayi, who has run 9.84 seconds twice. Stacey Williams Photo: Garfield Robinson Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who is coming off back-to-back strong performances, United States’ Jordan Anthony, and the British trio of training partner Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu and Romell Glave are also down to compete in the men’s 100m. Other Jamaicans are also slated to feature at the meet as they seek to stay in the race for a place in the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium, and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in September. National champion Stacey Ann Williams and national record holder Nickisha Pryce will line up in the women’s 400m. They are to face Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who has run three of the five fastest times in the world this year. Her top time so far is a world leading 48.48. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger and Britain’s Yemi Mary John are also expected to add to the quality of the race. Nickisha Pryce (Photo: Collin Reid) Oblique Seville Photo: Garfield Robinson Demario Prince, who ran a personal best 13.01 to be ranked sixth in the world, and World Championships medallist Orlando Bennett are to face Ja’Kobe Tharpe of the United States in the 1010m hurdles. Tharpe’s 12.75 is the fastest time-ever in the event. Lamara Distin is hoping to get back in to the top eight of the women’s high jump when she takes on Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, the Australians Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, and Marija Vukovic of Montenegro. — Paul A Reid