“It felt okay. I mean, I haven’t ran too many 200s all year, so my plan was really just try to execute a good race and just try to use it to prepare me, like you say, into next week going into Zurich, so I feel like I executed that, but as a competitor, you definitely want to, you know, see your name higher up on the podium, but overall it was okay,” said Christian Coleman when asked about his race at Brusells DL. He started strong in the 200m but faded to 4th with 20.42s. But today, he finished higher on the podium, yet it’s not all good news.

Christian Coleman marked his first victory of the season, and he chose to do it at a big stage. The 100m final of the Diamond League in Zurich. On the track racing him were Akani Simbine, the man who did not lose a single 100m until the London DL meet. Then there was Akeem Blake, the Jamaican who gave Noah Lyles a hard time in Laussane. But today, he outran them all. The 60m world record holder clocked a time of 9.97s (-0.4) to win the men’s 100m Diamond League trophy. Still, the World Championship feels far away.

Under normal circumstances, this win in the Diamond League final would have earned an automatic wildcard entry at the World Championships. But Noah Lyles, as the reigning World Champion in the 100m, already holds that wildcard for the U.S. team. Coleman can still be a part of the relay team since each nation gets 6 ‘relay pool’ athletes for each relay at the World Championships, and he is one guy you would not like to miss out on.

After the race, Coleman said, “This victory feels amazing. Let’s keep winning. For me, it is pretty unfortunate with the wild card rule. In America, we have five, six guys that should be in the final in Tokyo, so if I should get the opportunity, I want to come home with a medal. I am grateful and humble for this win.” Sure, he loves his first victory of 2025, but not being able to get a spot in the 100m at Tokyo is bound to sting.

Is reserve a hope for Christian Coleman, though?

There could have been an alternative to see the 60m world record holder in an individual event at the World Championships.

A new section has been added to the selection policy this year. The document now allows the nomination of reserves in specific circumstances. “The Panel may nominate one additional reserve for any individual event. Such reserve athletes must have achieved the criteria outlined in rounds 3 or 4. If more athletes satisfy the criteria than there are places available, reserve athletes will be named based on the Selection Panel’s consideration of criteria outlined in rounds 3 or 4.” But this would have been useful before the Nationals.

Because it contains this new rule. “Athletes who receive a wild card by winning the Diamond League series will be selected. If such an athlete has already been selected, the reserve selected in that event will be promoted to the team.” The reserve rule won’t work for Christian Coleman because it only applies when the Diamond League winner is already selected to the team. In that case, the designated reserve is promoted to fill the extra spot. Coleman, however, was not selected at Nationals and finished 5th with a time of 9.86 seconds.

The language of the policy further underscores its strategic value. “In situations where an athlete has been de-selected, UKA will exercise its sole discretion in determining whether or not to call upon a reserve.” While this was written with British selectors in mind, its principle demonstrates the broader framework being applied in 2025.

So, relays are Christian Coleman’s only hope. Can he make it? Let’s wait a little there…