Chaos. That’s the only way to describe it. But can we even say otherwise? After all, when Team USA entered the 2025 World Relays, it was pretty much expected that they would dominate the event. And by the end of day 1, with their archrivals Jamaica down in the dumps, it was thought that surely 2025 would be their year. But instead, a split-second mistake turned their 4x100m mixed relay into a big nightmare.  As the baton was passed from a blazing-fast female runner to her male teammate, disaster struck. A fumble, a drop, and just like that, the team was out. No title. No podium. Just shock and disbelief.

In the aftermath of the debacle, Justin Gatlin decided it was time to speak up. On the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, the former Olympic champion took it upon himself to build a relay team that wouldn’t crack under pressure. Gatlin wasn’t subtle. He laid out his vision for what a winning U.S. mixed relay squad should look like. And it turned heads. Not because of who he included, but who he didn’t.

There was no mention of Sha’Carri Richardson. No Noah Lyles either. Instead, Gatlin locked in on a mix of youth, raw speed, and strategic fit. Gatlin began and laid down his lineup. Tamari Davis, Gabby Thomas, Erriyon Knighton, and Kenny Bednarek. That’s right. No “mainstream” stars. Just the athletes Gatlin believed could deliver, clean and fast. He made it clear why each selection mattered. “So I’m looking for someone who can build up speed very evenly but also strong,” Gatlin said. 

“So Erriyon does a great job of building speed up. He handles the curve very well. And then having someone that we know who can hit it on the fly —that’s—that’s Kenny, right? Now Kung Fu Kenny handles that fly. We’ve seen what he’s doing right now—19.8, damn near 19.7, you know what I mean? So I don’t—that—I think it’s going to handle itself. I feel like all of them can be able to do their job at a high level,” the US track legend further explained. The logic was hard to argue with. Tamari Davis, known for explosive starts, would set the tone. 

Gabby Thomas, steady on the backstretch. Erriyon Knighton to dominate the curve. And “Kung Fu Kenny” Bednarek to close. It was a setup built not around celebrity, but synergy. Gatlin’s approach also hinted at a larger issue in relay construction. Balancing star power with team chemistry. He subtly warned against simply throwing the fastest names on the track. The mixed relay, he argued, requires rhythm, pacing, and perfect transitions.

Something only a handpicked unit could deliver. In the end, Gatlin wasn’t just naming a fantasy team. He was sending a message. That, if Team USA wants to avoid another meltdown, it’s time to rethink how we pick our stars. Sometimes, it’s not about who’s the fastest. It’s about who fits the best. Meanwhile, as the exclusion of Lyles and Richardson might turn heads, a look at their recent performances will largely explain the why.

Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson spark worry with 2025 setbacks

Noah Lyles was supposed to ignite Atlanta. Sha’Carri Richardson was set to dazzle Tokyo. Yet, in a year packed with promise, two of USA Track and Field’s biggest stars have hit early turbulence, raising fresh doubts about consistency, fitness, and form just months before the World Championships. Just hours before the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games, Lyles’ name vanished from the start list, replaced not by a rival but by silence. “Injury,” the organizers said.

But the statement was hollow. No details. No timetable. Just a void where anticipation had been. For fans expecting him to chase Usain Bolt’s 150m world best, it was a gut punch. His withdrawal not only sucked the energy out of the event, but also underlined a deeper concern. After all, this was to be Noah’s second race of the season. His first was a comparatively sluggish 45.87 in the 400m at Gainesville.

And let’s not forget Paris, where Lyles, a gold favorite in the 200m, was beaten to the line and finished third. Meanwhile, Sha’Carri Richardson’s 2025 campaign has begun on similarly shaky ground. After opening with a strong 10.76 win in Chorzow, she faltered badly in Hungary. She faced a loss to Julien Alfred in 10.97. Then came the pullout.

Just a day after finishing eighth in Brussels with a puzzling 11.23, far from her best, Sha’Carri withdrew from the 200m. Her name quietly disappeared from the start list, replaced by Dutch sprinter Tasa Jiya. With both stars stumbling instead of soaring, the track world is left holding its breath, wondering if these early missteps are temporary. Or if they are signs of a deeper unraveling.