Talk about timing. On the day he turned a year older, Christian Miller gave himself the ultimate birthday gift. Another emphatic win over the very man whose shadow once loomed large over his Olympic dreams. The 18-year-old American sprint sensation, already hailed as the future of U.S. sprinting, found himself in a familiar face-off with former world champion Christian Coleman at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo. And just like he did at the Tom Jones Memorial, Miller delivered the goods again.
Coleman, the 2019 World Champion and former world indoor record holder, was expected to reclaim some of his old magic. He had the stage set for a statement run, one that could have sparked a comeback. But while the crowd watched closely for Coleman’s ignition, it was another name lighting up the lanes. Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita took the win in 10.06 seconds (+1.1 m/s), but it was Miller’s second-place finish, edging out Coleman at that told the real story. Once seen as the underdog chasing legends, Miller is now rewriting the narrative in real time. One blazing sprint at a time.
Track & Field Gazette took to X, highlighting, “Hiroki Yanagita wins the men’s 100m at the Tokyo Golden Grand Prix in 10.06s (1.1)!” But the real buzz came from who followed. Christian Miller surged into second with a 10.08s finish, just ahead of Christian Coleman, who clocked 10.11s. For those close to Miller, like former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and seasoned coach Rodney Green. This wasn’t a tale of revenge, but one of purpose. “Cmilly,” as they affectionately call him, isn’t running for payback. He’s running because he was born for this. Grounded in faith, locked into belief, and destined for greatness, Miller continues to show that sprinting isn’t just his sport. It’s his calling.
Hiroki Yanagita wins the men’s 100m at the Tokyo Golden Grand Prix in 10.06s (1.1)!
Christian Miller was 2nd in 10.08s and Christian Coleman 3rd in 10.11s.pic.twitter.com/bbwZY5qC2l
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) May 18, 2025
And those in the know are taking notice. On a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin offered a gem of advice that underscored Miller’s growing legend, “Don’t put your schedule out, Cmilly. Don’t you just show up like a ghost in the night and just have them all like, ‘Oh, here he comes—the second he’s coming.’” The line struck a chord. Not just for its humor but for what it symbolized. Miller’s becoming the athlete others fear spotting in a heat sheet. Yet even as Gatlin pushed for stealth mode, Rodney Green chimed in with a different take. One that reflected admiration and pride. For Rodney, it wasn’t about secrecy. It was about celebration.
That celebration is well-earned. Miller’s 9.93s still stand as the fastest time ever recorded by a U.S. Under-20 athlete, and he’s still just getting started. At the Tom Jones Memorial on April 19, it wasn’t just the time that turned heads. On the historic Percy Beard Track, he humbled a decorated Olympian, handing Christian Coleman a loss few saw coming. And now, in Tokyo, he’s done it again. This isn’t a fluke. It’s a pattern. Christian Miller isn’t climbing the ranks. He’s sprinting past them.
Coleman’s struggles amid high hopes and new beginnings
The recent result in Tokyo wasn’t just a fluke. It marked yet another chapter in what’s becoming an undeniable trend for Christian Coleman. Once the world’s fastest man, Coleman has struggled to regain his dominant form in 2025. Just weeks ago at the Tom Jones Memorial, he clocked 10.06 seconds for a third-place finish. Then came the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, where he managed only 10.18 and placed fourth. Shaoxing wasn’t much better, finishing fifth with a time of 10.13.
These aren’t just off days! They’re far below what’s expected of a former world champion. Back on April 2, Coleman had taken to Instagram with contagious optimism, captioning a season-opening post with, “Let’s get this party started,” alongside a note of gratitude to his fans and supporters. The tone was hopeful. But the results? So far, underwhelming.
Coming into 2025, Coleman looked primed for a revival. His race schedule was packed, and his attitude was upbeat. A big part of that renewed energy came from his move to the Star Athletics Club, where he began training with a powerhouse group that includes Sha’Carri Richardson and Kenny Bednarek. It was a dramatic shift from his past routine. In his own words, “We just push each other every day…we feed off each other’s energy as well in terms of what we do.” The camaraderie and shared hunger in the group gave him something fresh. A support system he felt he’d never truly had during his more solitary training days. It was a new environment, and Coleman seemed convinced that this change would spark something big.
For someone who once walked the track alone, blending into a team-focused culture offered a different kind of motivation. But despite this promising setup and his belief in the process, the results haven’t aligned. The performances continue to dip instead of rise. For now, the pieces Coleman has carefully put together. New training partners, renewed confidence, and an ambitious race slate have yet to click. The energy is there. The faith is there. But the fire, it seems, is still waiting to catch.
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