On May 3, beneath the relentless blaze of the Texas sun, a 17-year-old lined up at the start line, not just to race, but to etch his name into the annals of American track and field at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. Among the finalists was Brayden Williams, a name already known, especially after his jaw-dropping, wind-aided 9.82 from a month prior—a performance that had reverberated across the nation. Many expected a duel. Maybe even a coronation. But Tate Taylor had other plans.

When the gun cracked through the silence, Tate didn’t just run—he exploded. His start, crisp and calculated, set the tone. By 30 meters, he was already slicing through the air like a blade through silk. And by the time he crossed the finish line—just 9.92 seconds later—the track had a new king. Only one under-20 sprinter in history had ever run faster: Letsile Tebogo, with his 9.91. Brayden finished strong, clocking 10.01—but the day belonged to Tate. But Tate wasn’t done.

Just hours later, he returned to the track for the 200m. With a quiet confidence, he surged down the curve, then powered through the straight to post a staggering 20.14. Wind-legal. Clean. Precise. The result tied him with none other than Tyreek Hill and Michael Norman—the names of Olympians, legends, and world finalists. And yet, after that hypnotizing performance, Tate barely cracked a smile.

When asked how he did it, his answer was mechanical, almost surgical: “I knew if I got a decent block start and had triple extension so as the beginning, my top end would carry me.” It was clear. This wasn’t luck. This wasn’t hype. It was work. Structure. Intent. That composure wasn’t born yesterday. 

Last year, as a sophomore, he stunned Texas by becoming the Region 4 champion in the 100m with a blazing 10.29—one of the state’s fastest times that year and one that would have won the state title the previous year. He was already different. Already learning how to win—and how to handle it. And in those days, he was already showing signs of having an ironclad mindset to set himself up on the list. How so? 

Back in 2024, Tate sat down with Maximum Sports, still a sophomore, still chasing ghosts of races lost. He spoke with honesty that betrayed his youth, saying, “I have really been trying to be better than everybody who tried to beat me last year. So just to see that work pay off and God does his things. I was very excited and proud of myself.” It was a glimpse into a young athlete not just driven by talent but haunted by the hunger to evolve. However, his coach, JC Williams, saw it coming.

“We knew that he was special, we knew that he’s gonna bring a lot to the program,” Williams said, voice laced with pride. “This year, he came out of the start, breaking record after record. It’s a testament to his work ethic, and now that’s why he’s having the success he has had. He is very competitive kid. And like I said, rises on every occasion.” And rise he did. This year, Tate Taylor didn’t just make waves—he caused a seismic shift. This year, there was one moment that shocked even the most seasoned observers: He erased Noah Lyles’s high school record.

Tate Taylor erases Noah Lyles’s track record

There are fast races. There are statement races. And then there are the kinds of races that leave a permanent scorch mark on history. At the Nike Indoor Nationals held in March this year, Tate Taylor didn’t just win the boys’ 200m final—he went speed gun. Coming into the meet with a solid season-best of 21.09, most expected him to sharpen that time. But no one—not the fans, not the field, not even the clock—was ready for what came next.

20.46. That wasn’t just a personal best. That wasn’t just fast. That was a new U.S. high school indoor national record—and he didn’t just break it. He obliterated it. In one explosive lap around the banked track, Tate torched Issam Asinga’s 20.48 from 2023. Then he rewrote the pages that held Jaylen Slade’s 20.62 and Noah Lyles’ legendary 20.63 from 2016, when Lyles was 19 and already on his way to Olympic stardom. And after it? 

Even Noah Lyles took notice, posting: “Records are made to be broken, and he took that to heart. This is a crazy impressive time and win! Congratulations.” So, Style. Speed. Swagger. Tate didn’t just run the race—he owned it. And in doing so, he cleared out a chunk of the all-time leaderboard like a demolition crew with spikes on.