For the first time in a lot while the men’s 100m dash has generated a lot of discussions going into a major Olympic Games thanks to the unannounced emergence of a Jamaican sprint soldier – Kishane Thompson, igniting a new chapter in the USA versus Jamaica rivalry in the men’s 100 metres.
In fact, Noah Lyles had been the hot favourite months before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games due to his sterling performance at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary where he won three gold medals in the men’s 100m [9.83], 200m [19.52], and the 4x100m relays with Team USA.
There is no gain denying the fact that Lyles’ signature event is the 200m, but with time and focus the Gainesville [Florida] track actor has also put his name in the upper echelons of the men’s 100m race, winning back-to-back laurels at major championships.
The reigning world champion [Lyles] won the men’s 100m at the 2024 US Olympic Trials in 9.83 seconds and went ahead to set a new personal best time of 9.81 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in London, England, on 20 July, 2024.
Unlike Noah Lyles, very little is known of Kishane Thompson who burst onto the scene at the 2023 Jamaican national trials where he ran 9.91 seconds in his qualifying heat, but pulled-out of the competition on the advice of his coach prior to the semi-final due to multiple injuries in the previous years.
The 23yr old Jamaican [Thompson] from a fishing community – Mitchell Town in Clarendon, made his Diamond League debut in Monaco on 21 July 2023, running 10.04 seconds to finish fifth, but in September of the same year, he lowered his 100 metres personal best to 9.85 seconds to finish second at the Diamond League event in Xiamen, China.
Tipped by many as the right man to succeed the legendary Usain Bolt, Kishane Thompson put the world on notice on June 27, 2024 having ran 9.82 seconds for the 100 metres in the opening round at the Jamaican Olympic trials in Kingston.
As if that was not enough, he went ahead to win the 2024 Jamaican national men’s 100m title in a new personal best of 9.77 seconds which interestingly stands as the world lead time.
“That’s my boy. Congrats Kishane, I love you, you have done well,” said his mother Grace Allen, a high jumper in her day after watching her son’s blistering performance at the national stadium.
Yes, Kishane is the fastest to run the 100m dash this year, but let’s also not quickly forget that replicating the performance at the Olympic comes with its own set of challenges.
No one knows Thompson better than his coach Stephen Francis of the MVP Track Club who claims that the latest kid on the block has got what it takes to lower his time in Paris:
“I don’t think anyone has seen him run …..
“He has 9.82, 9.84, 9.77 seconds, not even Usain Bolt has ever had that in a series…,”
Said the renowned coach.
Judging from my desk, the only thing that could stand between Kishane Thompson and an Olympic 100m gold medal in Paris is distractions, and perhaps if he allows himself to be overwhelmed by the sudden hype and expectations.
He would certainly need to learn how to handle butterflies in his stomach from one round to the other.
Men’s 100m
Final: August 4
Defending champion: Marcell Jacobs [ITA] 9.80
Olympic record-holder: Usain Bolt [JAM] 9.63, 2012
World champion: Noah Lyles [USA] 9.83
World leader: Kishane Thompson [JAM] 9.77
Apart from the threat Noah Lyles will pose, Kishane Thompson will also have to watch out for his Jamaican teammate – Oblique Seville [9.81], the fourth fastest man this year, who has already dealt with the bluff of Lyles, as well as the unpredictable Kenyan star and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist – Ferdinand Omanlaya [9.79], and the in form Akani Simbine of South Africa.
By James K. Attaglo Wilson
