In the days leading up to the Prefontaine Classic, Kishane Thompson said little, but what he said mattered. “Anything is possible,” he offered when asked whether the meet record might fall.  “But I won’t jinx it for the bad, nor the good. I just gotta come out there, execute, do my best, you know, enjoy myself.” The words, calm and measured, carried no bravado. No fanfare, just clarity, like Thompson already knew what he was about to do!

And on Saturday in Eugene, he followed through. The 23-year-old Jamaican surged to a 9.85-second victory in the Prefontaine Classic 100 meters, stamping his name on a track long considered American territory. Olympic medalists and world champions lined up beside him, but none could match his control or close the margin. Trayvon Bromell and Zharnel Hughes followed in 9.94 and 9.91, respectively. And Christian Coleman?

Well, despite recording a season’s best, slipped to seventh in 10.06. The comparison with Coleman, long viewed as the sport’s most electric starter, only strengthens the shift underway. At this same meet, Coleman had stood victorious on three previous occasions. His hold over Hayward was firm. And yet, the race in 2025 made that past feel distant. Where Coleman’s early phase once put fields to bed, Thompson’s middle drive left the rest chasing shadows.

For the second time this season, Thompson delivered more than a win, as he delivered a warning. No longer just the fast Jamaican newcomer, Thompson’s timing, stride control, and post-race poise looked more like ownership than arrival. And as he secured his victory, one must note that Thompson did not win with surprise, nor did he arrive without notice. His 9.75 at the Jamaican Trials had already forced the conversation his way. And while he stopped short of declaring war, his comments prior to Eugene betrayed a level of certainty that raised eyebrows.

As Tokyo approaches, the implications of this clash stretch beyond one race. Kishane Thompson has kept his pre-meet press conference words. He named no names but sent his message in motion. No drama, no declarations, just the fastest man of the year, choosing action over argument, and collecting American ground as his own. And looks like even before defeating Coleman, Kishane already knew his next target!

Kishane Thompson eyes Noah Lyles’ showdown with revenge on his mind

Kishane Thompson’s gaze has turned sharply toward redemption. Eleven months after falling short by the barest measurable margin to Noah Lyles in the Olympic 100 meters, a mere .005 seconds, the Jamaican sprinter has begun to sharpen both form and focus. With two commanding victories already under his belt this season, including a 9.75-second dash at the Jamaican national trials, Thompson is building a case not just for speed, but for supremacy. He speaks carefully, with the assurance of one who understands the stakes. “I’m a very competitive person,” he said just two days back. “I might not show it, but when it comes to competing with a phenomenal person, I think he’s a phenomenal athlete, great rival.”

Thompson’s ascent in 2025 has been deliberate. There is nothing hurried in his approach, only purpose. When he speaks of race execution, it is not the language of spectacle but of calibration. “So far we’re just working on the execution, bit by bit, trying to put everything together,” he said. The victory at the Jamaican trials did more than secure a place on the national team. It placed Thompson among the six fastest men ever to run the 100 meters, behind names that defined an era. Still, he does not lean on historical standing. “I think I’m aware subconsciously,” he admitted, “but I don’t let it overshadow anything that I’ve got to think about.”

What remains is the unfinished matter with Lyles. While the American has not yet opened his 100-meter campaign this season, Thompson is unmistakably preparing for that eventual intersection. Kishane bluntly stated, “So, yeah, of course, when he’s ready to step back on the track and we meet, it’s going to be fireworks for sure.” However, until that meeting materializes, Thompson would definitely continue to tighten every stride and sharpen every start. For him, the rematch is not a question of if, but when, and this time, the finish line may speak a different truth.