Noah Lyles in Prime Form, But Challenges Loom in Tokyo 100m Final

A Battle for Glory in the Men’s 100m

A sprinter in action during a competitive race at the World Championships, showcasing determination and speed.

Noah Lyles, the American sprinter who has claimed five individual global sprint titles, asserts he is in the best shape of his life as he prepares to defend his world 100m title in Tokyo. Despite his confidence, the road to gold is not without hurdles. Lyles faced an injury-plagued start to the season, and his personal best of 9.90 seconds ranks only 14th fastest in 2025. He was also narrowly outpaced by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in August, who demonstrated his superior form with a commanding win over Lyles at the Lausanne Diamond League. However, after qualifying fourth fastest in his heat, Lyles remains unfazed, expressing his belief that he has more to give. “I had a great start today but I had even better ones at practice. I know there is more in the tank,” said Lyles. “This is the best form I have ever been in my life. I am bringing special things here. Running 9.95 in the first round is exactly what I wanted to warm up my body.”

The competition promises to be fierce, with Jamaican sprinters Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville emerging as formidable threats. Thompson, the fastest man in the world this year with a personal best of 9.75 seconds, narrowly missed the Olympic title by a mere 0.005 seconds. Should either Thompson or Seville triumph, they would become the first Jamaican men to win a global 100m title since Usain Bolt in 2015. Thompson’s impressive performance has caught the attention of renowned athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, who praised his strength and power, saying: “Kishane Thompson looked phenomenal. The strength and power he had coming out of the starting blocks, his transition phase, he even slowed down massively towards the finish line. I think he’s definitely one to really watch.”

Meanwhile, American Kenny Bednarek, the second-fastest athlete of the year with a best of 9.79 seconds, is also in the mix, though he recently forgot to pack his spikes for the trip to Tokyo. Bednarek, known for his carefree and humorous nature, attributed his forgetfulness to his tendency to be “a clumsy dude.” Despite the setback, he remains confident in his ability to compete for the title. “I have been focusing on so many things, I am the type of athlete that will always leave something at the track or forget something back home,” he said. “It is just something that has always been like that. Friends and family help me out.”

In the women’s 100m, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown as well. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the standout performer of the season with a time of 10.65 seconds, faces off against Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who aims to secure her first world title. Jefferson-Wooden has run the three fastest times in 2025 and five of the top six, interrupted only by Alfred’s best of 10.75. British athletes Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Amy Hunt have also advanced to the semi-finals, with Neita setting a personal best of 10.94 seconds, second only to Alfred’s leading 10.93 in the heats. Neita is determined to make her first individual global podium after finishing fourth at the Olympics.

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, a former world champion, and Amy Hunt, a rising star in the British sprinting scene, are also looking to make an impact in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s trio of medal threats—Tina Clayton, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson—will be eager to make their mark. Fraser-Pryce, who will retire after these World Championships, is hoping to sign off with a 25th and final global podium, 18 years after she made her first in Japan. She has been a dominant force in the women’s 100m for over a decade and remains a favorite despite her age.

Ennis-Hill, who has been following the competition closely, remarked on the high level of competition: “Watching Julien Alfred’s form, she looked phenomenal. She is such a powerful athlete and she has the experience as well as being Olympic champion. She will be a tough one to beat but Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is going to obviously give her a run. It will be very close.”

The men’s and women’s 100m finals are set to take place on Sunday, with the men’s semi-finals starting at 12:20 BST and the finals following at 14:13 BST. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating what promises to be one of the most exciting and closely contested 100m finals in recent history.