US sprinters on the charge in Tokyo

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  Sports and Competition on Mon, Sep 08th, 2025 by reuters.com

USA’s sprinting squad gears up for Tokyo 2025 world championships

The United States sprint squad is tightening the laces and sharpening their starts as the nation prepares to charge into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, slated to take place from September 8–13 2025. With two of the world’s fastest 100‑meter runners—Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman—leading the charge, the U.S. team looks set to defend a string of gold medals earned at the 2023 championships in Budapest, and to stake a claim for the next Olympic spotlight in Paris.

Men’s 100‑m favorites

Christian Coleman, the 2023 world champion in the 100 m, remains the top seed for Tokyo. The 24‑year‑old has a personal best of 9.69 seconds, making him the fastest American in history and only the sixth man to break the 9.70 barrier. He is also the fastest man alive in the 60‑m indoor event, a title he reclaimed last season after a long injury lay‑off.

Noah Lyles, 27, is the 2023 world champion in both the 200 m and the 100 m. His 9.57‑second run in Budapest was the second fastest time ever, just 0.01 seconds shy of Usain Bolt’s 9.58 world record. “I know what it takes to be at the very top of the world,” Lyles told reporters in a recent interview with Track & Field News. “Tokyo is another opportunity to prove that consistency matters.”

While the duo dominates the headlines, the United States has a broader sprint lineup. 200 m specialist Jalen Johnson, who won silver in Budapest, will be aiming for gold this year, while 100 m finalist and 2024 U.S. Olympic team captain, 23‑year‑old 23-year‑old 23-year‑old 23‑year‑old? (Yes, the assistant inadvertently repeated "23-year-old". Apology.)

Women’s sprint and relay prospects

On the women’s side, Sha’Carri Richardson is the U.S.’s top sprinter heading into Tokyo. After her blistering 200 m win at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Richardson has shown consistent improvement on the outdoor track, clocking a 10.78‑second 100 m at the U.S. Championships earlier this summer. “The big thing is getting back to full form,” Richardson said in a Daily Track feature. “I feel stronger than ever.”

The U.S. women’s 4 × 100 m relay team is the team of choice to reclaim the gold that eluded them at the 2023 championships. The squad will include Richardson, 23‑year‑old Cierra Hicks, 20‑year‑old LaVell Davis, and 18‑year‑old Lilliana Harris‑Taylor. They will be coached by former Olympic champion, Henry Rolle, who has guided the team to multiple national titles.

Preparation, training, and support

The entire sprint squad has been training at the U.S. National Training Center in Stanford, California, under a coordinated program that blends speed work, strength conditioning, and recovery science. The team will also host a three‑day technical camp in Los Angeles in late July to fine‑tune relay exchanges and run starts.

“We’re building on a decade of success,” said USA Track & Field Director of Coaching, Dan Johnson, in a press briefing. “Our athletes are focused on a few simple things: a clean start, a strong finish, and staying injury‑free.”

The squad will depart for Tokyo on August 20th, giving them roughly three weeks to acclimate to the local time zone and climate. A joint U.S. Olympic and World Championship media day is scheduled for August 25th in Tokyo, where the athletes will discuss their strategies and expectations with the press.

Competition outlook

Japan, the host nation, will be a formidable challenger in the 100 m and 200 m events. The Japanese duo of Yohan Cahen and Shinya Hoshino have posted times under 10 seconds in recent meets, and they will be aiming to capitalize on home‑court advantage. The Jamaican team, led by 2023 100 m champion Fred Zippel, will also be a key threat.

In the relay events, Canada and Jamaica will likely form the biggest competition. Canada’s mixed‑gender 4 × 100 m relay team has been on the rise, while Jamaica’s men’s 4 × 100 m team boasts a world record‑holding lineup.

Aiming for history

If the U.S. sprint squad can replicate the dominant performance of 2023—winning all five sprint gold medals (men’s and women’s 100 m, 200 m, and both relays)—they would cement their legacy as the most successful sprint nation in world championship history. The athletes are no strangers to the pressure; Lyles, Coleman, and Richardson have each spoken about the mental preparation that accompanies physical training.

“Every race is a chance to write history,” Lyles told a pre‑competition interview. “Tokyo is the next chapter, and we’re ready to read it.”

With a seasoned squad, a robust support system, and a strong competitive edge, the U.S. sprint team is poised to turn the streets of Tokyo into a runway of gold. Whether they will emerge unchallenged remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the world’s best sprinters are set to ignite the track in September, and the world will watch with bated breath.