Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kishane Thompson, and a host of global athletics stars are set to light up the Gyulai István Memorial in Budapest on Tuesday, July 12. The event, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, comes just weeks before the World Championships, making it a key tune-up for many elite athletes.
For Fraser-Pryce, this competition marks her long-awaited return to the track as she builds towards her ninth and final World Championships in Tokyo this September. The 38-year-old, a 10-time world champion, will contest the women’s 100m against a formidable field that includes Africa’s fastest woman, Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, as well as Tamari Davis, Tina Clayton, Maia McCoy, and Hungary’s Boglárka Takács. Fraser-Pryce last competed in June, where she secured her ticket to the upcoming global showpiece.
Kishane Thompson, meanwhile, enters Budapest in blistering form. The Jamaican sprint star is currently the fastest man in the world this season, courtesy of his 9.75-second performance at the Jamaican Championships. He will be looking to maintain his dominance while fending off a competitive lineup that promises fireworks in the men’s 100m.
The meet will feature an array of Olympic and world medallists across multiple disciplines. Swedish pole vault phenomenon Mondo Duplantis will be in action, alongside Canadian hammer throw Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg. Dutch 400m hurdles star Femke Bol and Greece’s long jump ace Miltiadis Tentoglou are also part of the star-studded roster, each fine-tuning their form ahead of the World Championships.
The competition schedule is packed, beginning at 15:45 CEST with the official opening. The track and field events range from sprints and hurdles to jumps, throws, and middle-distance races, culminating with the highly anticipated women’s 100m at 19:19 CEST, followed by the men’s 100m at 19:27 CEST. The day wraps up with the awards ceremony at 19:33 CEST.
Fans around the world will be able to follow the action live. The Gyulai István Memorial will be streamed internationally via the World Athletics website and broadcast on various television networks. For Kenyan audiences, SuperSport will provide live coverage. The broadcast kicks off at 17:30 CEST (GMT +2), ensuring that viewers won’t miss any of the major races.
With sprint legends, record holders, and rising stars all converging in Budapest, the meet promises thrilling performances and an early glimpse of who might dominate the global stage later this season.
