“Dipping isn’t really the key to winning a race. If you’re strong from 0 to 100 meters and can separate yourself from the pack, you don’t need to dip—simple as that,” said Kishane Thompson in July, taking a calm yet pointed jab at his fierce rival Noah Lyles ahead of their showdown. The remark came fresh off Thompson’s blistering 9.75-second run at the Jamaican National Championships. Meanwhile, Lyles has been battling injuries this season, casting doubts on his form. So, while many expect Thompson to have the upper hand this time, a veteran track and field analyst sees the race differently.
Last year in the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles snatched gold in a photo-finish thriller, edging Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second — so close that it was impossible to tell with the naked eye. Fast forward to 2025, and the tables appear to have turned in Jamaica’s favor. Kishane is currently the world’s fastest man with his 9.75-second record, and he is looking forward to edging out his rival at the 2025 World Championships. In addition to that, he is sixth on the all-time men’s 100m list.
Meanwhile, fresh off his 200m national title victory at the American trials on Sunday, the American superstar now heads to Poland. However, his 100m campaign this season remains unconvincing, as he sits 35th in the rankings with a season-best of 10.00 seconds. He might have proved his worth; however, the community is still skeptical about his rivalry with Thompson. But veteran analyst Anderson Emerole would beg to differ.
While having a conversation on his YouTube handle, he asserted that Lyles might have a better season than Thompson, “I think Noah. Noah. Noah. And I really do, because he hasn’t — like, he didn’t have a season yet, right? He was injured all year. So, him racing himself — not only is Noah going to be racing himself into shape, but he’s already kind of in shape. Like, I know we’re talking about the 100, but you don’t run 19.6 if you’re not in some good form.”
He further added, “Yes, I know he ran 10 flat at the London Diamond League and whatever, but you know, he is in shape. He is ready. So now, as he gets more races, he’s going to get better and better. And the thing I think about Noah is that he does not have to be the fastest in the field — and I don’t think he ever will be the fastest in the field — but he knows how to control a race, where it’s almost like people respond to him rather than other people running their own race. They’re thinking about Noah as opposed to thinking about what they need to execute.”
Novuna London Athletics Meet, London, UK. 19 July 2025. London, UK, 19 July 2025. LYLES Noah takes 2nd place in the 100m Mens, during the Novuna London Athletics Meet 2025, part of the Wanda Diamond League at London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Park, London, UK., Credit:Lee Floyd / Avalon UK, London, London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRAxUSA Copyright: xLeexFloydx/xAvalonx 1023706369
To date, Lyles holds the only head-to-head win, but Thompson has closed the gap and may have even surpassed him with his Jamaican Nationals. Thompson wants his revenge on Lyles; however, the American is certain about winning his upcoming races. Interestingly, Thompson has a warning for him.
Kishane Thompson warns the track-and-field community about Noah Lyles’ rivalry
In a loaded Prefontaine Classic field featuring former world champions Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell, Kishane Thompson didn’t blink. The Jamaican made sure to move out of the blocks and never looked back, securing first place. The statement was delivered that he is coming for the crown, and he won’t stop until he has it.
During the post-race interview, when he was asked where he currently sees himself in the sprinting landscape, Thompson, with a smile, stated, “When I get it, you guys will notice. I’m going to leave it at that. I’m going to leave you guys with that.” Well, it seemed like a warning targeted towards Noah Lyles.
At the Prefontaine Classic, Thompson clocked 9.85 seconds with a gentle +0.4 m/s tailwind—on paper, it looked like a smooth, controlled sprint. But as the sprinter later admitted, it was not that good.
“When I tried to kick it in overdrive and kind of float with it, it didn’t feel as smooth. Like I caught it for a second, but it felt as if like I missed, I missed stride. So, it kind of threw me off,” shared Kishane Thompson.
Now, both of them will be meeting each other at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, on August 16, 2025, before the Tokyo World Championship. And both the athletes are looking to oust one another, but who will have the last laugh? We’ll know in a few days… Meanwhile, if you have any speculations, share with us!
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