Oblique Seville Lifts the Lid on Jamaica's Relay Troubles and Why Fans Should Not Lose Faith Just Yet

Oblique Seville has addressed Jamaica’s ongoing struggles in the men’s 4x100m relay, urging fans to remain patient as the team works to rebuild its dominance on the world stage.

The Jamaican men's 4x100m relay team has had a mixed 2025 season, marked by both a strong qualifying performance and subsequent disappointment in major championships.

The team struggled with baton exchanges and failed to finish (DNF) the men's 4x100m race in both their initial heat and the repechage round at the World Athletics Relays. Team Jamaica did not qualify for the 2025 World Championships automatically through the event.

To secure their spot, a team featuring Rohan Watson, Oblique Seville, Kadrian Goldson, and Kishane Thompson ran a season-best time of 37.80 seconds to win a Diamond League race in London. This performance moved them into a qualifying position for the World Championships.

Despite qualifying and fielding a strong lineup, the team crashed out in the heats (did not finish) due to another failed baton exchange, this time between Ryiem Forde and Kishane Thompson, thus missing the final.

The young sprinter acknowledged that the transition period following the retirement of legendary athletes, including Usain Bolt, has been challenging.

However, he emphasised that the current crop of runners is committed to improving and restoring Jamaica’s reputation in sprinting relays.

Oblique Seville expressed confidence that with continued teamwork, experience, and consistency, the squad will soon return to its winning ways.

“You have to understand that in the past, with Usain Bolt, it's all about chemistry. You have to understand this is a new generation of sprinters, so we don't have that chemistry as yet,” Oblique Seville said in an interview with CBC Sports.

“So, it's going to take time for us to literally get into that groove, just as we were in a little bit of struggles for the men sprinting, and now we are back. It is just the same for the relay. So, it is just soon enough before you're going to see us on top again.”

Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team remains in a period of rebuilding, striving to regain the rhythm and chemistry that once made them an unstoppable force on the track with the likes of Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt.

While recent setbacks have tested both the athletes and their supporters, Oblique Seville’s optimism reflects a growing belief within the camp that success is only a matter of time.