Tina Clayton stunned Shericka Jacson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to win the 100 meter final of the 2025 Jamaican National Trials on Friday.
After a surprise performance that saw her outpace legends like Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, rising sprint star Tina Clayton has shared what fueled her breakthrough run at the Jamaican World Athletics Championship Trials.
Clayton got off the blocks well and maintained her form to get over the line in 10.81 seconds, with Jackson and Fraser-Pryce coming in second and third respectively and make the Jamaica team for the World Athletics Championships set to take place in Tokyo next September.
Speaking to CITIUS MAG following her win, Clayton, who has shown glimpses of her potential and talent at senior level but often struggled to deliver in moments that mattered, revealed what has always held her back.
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“The confidence is always there, to be honest. As I always say—keep the confidence. Don’t let nobody belittle your confidence,” she said.
“Even if I know probably I’m not 100%, my confidence is always sky high.”
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Though full of self-belief, Clayton admitted the speed of her performance caught her off guard.
Heading into the race, she was expecting to better her previous personal best of 10.95 seconds, which she achieved during the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia on August 3, 2022, but not by such a large improvement.
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“No, I didn’t expect this time. Based on how I was going in training, I knew that I would PB, but not that fast.”
Beyond talent, Tina credits her support circle—especially her twin sister Tia Clayton, and teammates at the MVP Track Club.
“Everybody knows I have a half—she’s not just a twin, she’s a training partner, she’s a motivator. I train with her and she pushes me.”
“And I have two other friends—shoutout to Krystal Slowley and Shana Kaye Anderson—they always keep us grounded and help to push us.”
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Although Tina was understandably jovial following her milestone, it was a moment to forget for Tia, who was reduced to tears after injuring herself during the race, which effectively dashed her hopes of making the cut this time round after making the Olympics one in 2024.
“It’s a very sad moment. For both of us to meet the team, it was a dream. And the fact that it was my first time making the final, I was like—it is possible.
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“But they always say track and field is a very ungrateful sport. Things happen. So we give and take—and still give God the glory.”
With her 10.81s now putting her among the elite sprinters in the world, Tina Clayton has officially arrived—backed by faith, family, and a fiercely loyal training unit.