With the Tokyo World Championships approaching, most nations have revealed their lineups, and Jamaica’s announcement drew major attention. The squad features big names such as Kishane Thompson, Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Oblique Seville, signaling a strong challenge against their main rivals, the USA. However, the excitement was tempered by controversy after a key sprinter, expected to anchor the 4x100m relay, was left out.
Bryan Levell, despite his outstanding season, was not named in the 100m or the relay. He recently delivered his best performance in Eisenstadt, Austria, clocking 9.82 seconds in the 100m—a personal best that ranked him as the second-fastest man this season, behind only Kishane Thompson. Nevertheless, Jamaica’s relay team will feature Ackeem Blake, Ryiem Forde, Kadrian Goldson, Oblique Seville, Kishane Thompson, and Rohan Watson. Levell has instead been placed in the 200m event.
JAAA has announced the Team to the World Athletics Championships – Tokyo25 🇯🇲https://t.co/Gsc5d8ckeo pic.twitter.com/jU5NX3tBxk
— JA T&F Updates (@JATnFUpdates) August 30, 2025
Levell’s 200m season has been exceptional. On August 12, he won the István Gyulai Memorial in Budapest with an impressive 19.69, the third-fastest time ever by a Jamaican, behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. This earned him a spot in the 200m alongside Adrian Kerr and Christopher Taylor. Still, fans are disappointed he was excluded from the relay. Many voiced concerns online, with some calling it a mistake that could cost Jamaica a medal. Others speculated that he might still run, given that he is already on the team roster.
Earlier this year at the Jamaican National Championships, Levell won the 200m title in a personal-best 19.97, also qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He later clocked 9.98 in the 100m semifinals and placed fourth in the final.
Responding to the backlash, the Jamaican federation stated that relay selections are ultimately the responsibility of the technical leader and his team. For now, Levell is not listed as part of the 4x100m squad, though his inclusion as a backup remains uncertain.