“Hey, man,” Noah Lyles said as he approached Kishane Thompson, “I think you got it.”  For a moment, Noah believed this Jamaican sprinter’s blistering speed had been too much to match. After their intense 10-second showdown at Stade de France on August 4 last year, Lyles offered his congratulations, convinced Thompson had won the Olympic 100m final in Paris. But in the end, it was Lyles who edged ahead by mere fractions of a second to claim the gold, leaving Thompson with silver. Now, 10 months after that unforgettable night, Noah is in the waters again.

On Friday evening (June 27), Kishane Thompson lined up for the men’s 100m semifinal at the Jamaican National Trials. Just a day earlier, he had clocked 10.12 seconds in Heat 3. But this time, the moment was electric—and the commentator captured it all. “Position, bang, sent off Thompson now quickly, so Kadrian Goldson, Ackeem Blake. Thompson, though, motoring away from this field, making it look easy at the line. Flash Time 9.76. The flash time 9.76 is the flash time, and my, my, didn’t he make that look supremely easy? 0.4 What a sumptuous final we have into,” the announcer exclaimed. And then, the electronic scoreboard lit up with the storm he had just unleashed.

In the semifinal of the JAAA National Championships, Kishane Thompson stormed to a 9.80-second finish in the 100m (+0.4 m/s), beating out Kadrian Goldson (10.05s) and Ackeem Blake. That time now tops the global leaderboard for the season. But haven’t we seen this before? Indeed, just a year ago, at the very same venue—the National Stadium in Kingston—Kishane posted a world-leading 9.77 seconds during the Jamaican Championships. Yet, despite that explosive performance, he fell short of Olympic gold in Paris, edged out by Noah Lyles. So, will this year be different? With the World Athletics Championships fast approaching, the stage is set once again.

Still, Kishane Thompson has been lighting up the track with his performances. Although he fell short of first place at the Shanghai Diamond League, he’s consistently claimed victory in his other outings this season. And interestingly, he once hinted that this kind of form was coming.

Update: In a thrilling showdown to the finish, Kishane Thompson surged ahead to win the men’s 100m at the 2025 JAAA/Puma National Junior & Senior Championships, clocking an impressive 9.75 seconds. Oblique Seville came in second with 9.83, while Ackeem Blake secured third in 9.88. Within just a few hours, Thompson not only reset the world-leading time but also etched his name into history—his 9.75 now ranks him sixth on the all-time list, just ahead of Christian Coleman’s 9.76.

Kishane Thompson set the record in Noah Lyles’ absence 

While Noah Lyles has yet to lace up for a 100m race this season, his absence has only amplified the spotlight on another rising force—Kishane Thompson. Lyles was originally scheduled to compete at the adidas Atlanta City Games in Piedmont Park but pulled out at the last minute due to a minor injury. “Unfortunately, I just got a really tight ankle,” he explained. “It kind of surprisingly came around two weeks ago… We came up here thinking anything could happen; it could loosen up. But we’re just like, you know what—it’s not getting better. It’s just playing safe. I got two bars in the World Championship. There’s no need to rush anything.” Meanwhile, on the other side of the track, Thompson has been making his presence impossible to ignore.

Before stepping onto the track at the Racers Grand Prix, the 23-year-old made his intent clear: “As long as I’m alive, I’m the one to watch.” He didn’t pretend everything was perfect either.“You’re never going to say, hey, you’re ready… Everything is not always going to be aligned.” But that’s exactly what makes him dangerous.

Thompson doesn’t wait for ideal conditions—he adapts, he executes, and he thrives. That gritty, relentless mindset is becoming his trademark—and with every blistering performance, he’s not just showing up, he’s taking over.