Jamaican sprinters are turning up the heat in 2025, sending a clear warning to their American rivals ahead of the World Athletics Championships.
With a resurgence of blistering times and new breakout stars, Jamaica’s sprinting prowess is once again dominating headlines.
After a brief lull following the retirement of sprinting icon Usain Bolt and the injury struggles of stars like Yohan Blake, Jamaican speed is once again setting the tone in the men’s 100 meters.
The latest name making waves is 21-year-old Bryan Levell, whose blistering 9.82 seconds run in Eisenstadt, Austria, is now the second-fastest time of the 2025 season, behind only teammate Kishane Thompson’s 9.75s.
Levell, who failed to make Jamaica’s 100m team for the Worlds after finishing eighth at the National Championships, stormed back with a stunning comeback in Austria. Despite a sluggish start, he surged past the field to dominate the race, leaving South Africa’s Abduraqhman Karriem (10.07s) and Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryū (10.08s) trailing behind. With a headwind of -1.3 m/s, his performance was even more impressive.
Levell’s name now joins a growing list of Jamaican sprinters terrorizing the 100m leaderboard. At the Jamaican National Championships on June 27, Kishane Thompson shocked the world with a 9.75-second finish, the fastest 100m time in a decade and now 6th on the all-time list.
Just behind him was Oblique Seville, clocking 9.83s, while Ackeem Blake added more fire with 9.88s, making him the 7th fastest man in 2025. It’s a potent reminder that Jamaica’s sprint factory is back in full swing, just in time to challenge the world.
Can Team USA Hold the Line?
The U.S. currently boasts strong contenders in Kenny Bednarek (9.86s) and Trayvon Bromell (9.84s), both of whom remain firmly in the season’s top 10.
But while Noah Lyles has dominated the 200m and recently clinched 100m gold at the Paris Olympics, his season-best in the 100m so far stands at a modest 10.00s.
Though Lyles showed heart in winning his Monaco comeback race, questions loom large about whether he can fend off the red-hot Jamaicans in the shorter sprint, particularly with Thompson’s searing 9.75s looming overhead.
Although Levell missed out on the 100m spot for Jamaica at the Worlds, he did qualify in the 200 meters, where he clocked 20.10s at the Jamaican Nationals. With his confidence surging and speed peaking, even Noah Lyles, the reigning Olympic champion and king of the 200m, might want to keep an eye on him.
As Jamaica’s next generation continues to fire on all cylinders, Team USA can no longer afford to breathe easy.
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