As the defending champion, Noah Lyles is carrying the heavy weight of expectation, and this season has been one of the toughest of his career. The Alexandria, Virginia native thrives under pressure, but injuries and setbacks have kept him from dominating as he once did. For the first time in years, the latest list of the world’s top 10 fastest men in the 100m does not include his name—sending shockwaves through the track world.
Men’s 100m fastest times in 2025
🇯🇲 Kishane Thompson – 9.75
🇺🇸 Kenny Bednarek – 9.79
🇯🇲 Kishane Thompson – 9.80
🇯🇲 Bryan Levell – 9.82
🇺🇸 Courtney Lindsey – 9.82
🇯🇲 Oblique Seville – 9.83
🇺🇸 T’Mars McCallum – 9.83
🇺🇸 Trayvon Bromell – 9.84
🇯🇲 Oblique Seville – 9.84
🇬🇭…— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) August 23, 2025
Kishane Thompson tops the rankings after running 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican National Championships on June 27, 2025. He is followed by Kenny Bednarek, who clocked his time at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene on August 1, 2025. Even Oblique Seville, who recently defeated Lyles in Lausanne, made the list—while Lyles did not.
After being sidelined for three months with an inflamed tendon, Lyles returned in Monaco with a 19.88-second win in the 200m. But consistency has been hard to find. Thompson narrowly beat him in both London and Silesia, while Lyles skipped the 100m final at the USATF Championships to focus on his signature event, the 200m. That decision paid off, as he stormed to a world-leading 19.63s in the final, edging out Bednarek’s 19.67s. Still, in the Diamond League, he continues to face tough defeats, including second place in Lausanne behind Seville.
Reflecting on his season, Lyles admitted it has been “wild and unexpected,” with the injury disrupting his rhythm. Yet he believes he is proving his resilience:
“These are great competitors. And I’m showing that I’m just right back in the swing of things.”
Lyles has been clear about his goals: 2025 is less about chasing fast times and more about positioning himself to win the World Championships. Speaking to Olympics.com, he explained that after the injury, his focus shifted to simply getting healthy and ready to compete at the highest level.
Despite the setbacks, his confidence remains intact:
“I’m going to take it as a blessing in disguise and use what I have to the best of my ability.”
The big question now is whether Lyles can overcome Kishane Thompson, Kenny Bednarek, and the rest of his rivals to defend his crown, or if the competition will finally push him off his throne. Time will tell.