Best curve run? Check. Something fitting for his final Monaco Diamond League appearance before this Friday (July 11)? Also checked. For those unaware, the last time Noah Lyles competed in the men’s 200m ahead of this Friday, he blazed to a 19.46s finish—a meet record and the perfect response to his Olympic loss to Letsile Tebogo 11 months earlier. Sprinting at full strength? Absolutely. On July 11, at the Herculis Diamond League in Monaco, Lyles ticked nearly every box he had set for himself. He extended his six-year unbeaten streak in the Diamond League 200m. The only thing missing? A few words aimed at his rivals. But the American didn’t forget to deliver those either, just on his own time, in his own way…

On Friday, Noah Lyles had little trouble getting the better of Letsile Tebogo. It marked the American’s first 200m outing since his loss to the Botswanan sprinter in the Olympic final. After a dominant run off the curve, Lyles surged ahead of the pack and stopped the clock at 19.88 seconds (-0.8 m/s), with Tebogo trailing by 0.09 seconds. So, yes—it was all about toppling the Olympic champion in the event that has become Noah’s signature. But what about the man who gave Lyles a real scare in that very race at the Paris Olympics? Enter Kishane Thompson.

Noah Lyles may have skipped the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, but he certainly didn’t overlook Kishane Thompson’s explosive run in the men’s 100m there, or at the JAAA National Senior Championships. Reflecting on it in his post-race comments, Lyles admitted, “I was watching Prefontaine, and I wanted to be there, but we wanted first to make sure that I am healthy and fully able to compete. I missed most [of] the competitors, because I know everyone is giving their all.” The big question now—will this experience fuel Lyles to dig even deeper in his build-up to the Tokyo World Athletics Championships?

The 27-year-old has his plans ready. During the same interaction, he said, “I have a bye for the US Trials, which makes it less stressful because it gives us the time to work on the races, it gives us time to see what works and what doesn´t, and to be able to make moves from there.” So, Noah Lyles has so much time to try everything. In fact, after a week, he will enter the London Diamond League to compete in his first 100m race this season. Will Kishane Thompson keep his eyes on Noah’s performance? 

Kishane Thompson has something to clear in the track battle with Noah Lyles 

Kishane Thompson will be heading into the London Diamond League with momentum—and a mission. Named to Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay squad alongside Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake, Kadrian Goldson, and Rohan Watson, he’ll play a crucial role in keeping Jamaica’s relay hopes alive on the road to the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. But make no mistake, Kishane’s eyes are also firmly set on his individual path.

Just last weekend, he burst out of the blocks at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic and never gave the rest a chance. First place in the men’s 100m. A statement delivered loud and clear. And yet, he still left room for intrigue. When asked post-race where he sees himself among today’s sprinting elite, Thompson leaned in with a grin and said, “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.” A warning, right?

But the real thunder came earlier—at the JAAA National Championships—where Thompson clocked the fastest 100m time in the past decade. It wasn’t just a season’s best—it was world-leading. It was historic. His name now sits on the prestigious all-time list for the 100m—a list that, notably, still doesn’t include Noah Lyles. Now, with both stars heading to London, the stage is set for a showdown that could redefine the sprinting hierarchy!