Jonielle Smith targets solo 100m breakthrough at Commonwealth Games debut

Jonielle Smith has built a reputation as a reliable figure in Jamaica's women's 4x100m relay squad, but her attention is now fixed on making a mark on her own when she steps up for the 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Games run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. For Smith, it will be a first outing on that stage, and she heads into the meet convinced she is in the best shape of her career.

Earlier this month at National Championships, she lowered her personal best to 10.94 seconds to take third — her joint-highest finish at the meet since 2019. Shericka Jackson, the reigning national champion, won in 10.84, while world silver medallist Tina Clayton was second in 10.85.

Speaking after the race, Smith said she was pleased with how she ran, even though she believes she still has plenty in reserve.

"I really wanted to be a bit more aggressive in the first 30 metres, but I feel like I executed my own race. I kept my drive phase, ran out of the drive phase and then just built into my top end," Smith explained.

"I know there is more because I didn't feel like I ran just now, which is a very good sign. Once I get more comfortable with this type of speed and get more comfortable with execution, I feel like I can go way faster by the end of the year."

Smith said she feels like an entirely different athlete this season, and her results bear that out. She went under 11 seconds for the first time in her career this year and has done so twice more since. She also made her debut at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, placing fifth in the women's 60m final.

Alongside pursuing individual success, she said a key aim for the season is learning to manage this new phase of her career while racing against the world's top sprinters.

"For this season, to be honest, I'm trying to figure out this new person; the confidence, the healthy body, being able to train and come and compete and go right back into training," she said.

"I'm figuring out what's working for me now and how can I continue to be more confident. Each race, I just want to improve and improve, and I think I've been doing that well so far," Smith continued.

"I'm very grateful for the [personal best], very grateful for top three, finally, so again, after this, I just continue pushing, pushing, pushing. As I said, I feel like I can go way faster, so who is to tell next year?"

Qualifying for the women's 100m in Glasgow begins on July 27, with the semi-finals and final set for July 28.