Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin has named three American sprinters who could dethrone Noah Lyles in the 100 meters at the 2025 USATF Outdoor National Championships.
Lyles, fresh from a dazzling comeback, has reignited global attention. At the Monaco Diamond League on July 11, he clocked an impressive 19.88s in the 200m, defeating Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo.
Just eight days later in London, he opened his 100m season with a scorching 10.00s, finishing just behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.86s). Though Lyles is already qualified for the World Championships as the defending champion, the U.S. Nationals are far from a formality.
On the Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin joined Rodney Green in dissecting the field, analyzing the men with the real potential to stop Lyles in his tracks. Here are the three contenders Gatlin believes could shake up the American sprint throne:
1. Trayvon Bromell
Gatlin’s top pick is none other than Trayvon Bromell, a man who’s battled injuries but is roaring back into world-class form. After an adductor injury in May 2024 that sidelined him from the Olympic Trials, many wrote Bromell off. But 2025 tells a different story.
At the Rome Diamond League earlier this season, Bromell blazed through the 100m in a staggering 9.84s, a world lead at the time and his fastest legal time since 2022.
“Watching Trayvon develop through this season…he’s coming back strong,” said Gatlin.
“He looks healthy. He looks focused.”
2. Kenny Bednarek
Nicknamed “Kung Fu Kenny,” Bednarek has become a household name in both the 100m and 200m, and Gatlin believes he’s a serious threat in either event.
“Kenny has shown a lot of growth…he’s gotten stronger, faster, and his mechanics have improved,” Gatlin said.
Bednarek swept every short-sprint race on Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track circuit, going undefeated across Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia. His form made him the circuit’s first-ever Men’s Short Sprints Champion and Racer of the Year.
Though he skipped the Prefontaine Classic due to minor tightness, Bednarek’s return to training has been documented on social media, and it looks promising.
3. Brandon Hicklin
For his third pick, Gatlin went with a less-hyped name: Brandon Hicklin.
“He’s been the dark horse this season,” said Gatlin.
“Multiple sub-10s but hasn’t really gotten the recognition.”
Hicklin’s 2025 campaign includes a 9.93s personal best in Clermont and a wind-aided 9.92s win over Christian Coleman, performances that have quietly built his reputation. With strong coaching and rising confidence, Hicklin could be the surprise of the season.
Beyond the Big Three
While these three are Gatlin’s top picks, the broader conversation revealed the strength of the field Lyles faces, especially in the 200m.
Let’s not forget Letsile Tebogo, the defending Olympic champion, who ran a blistering 19.76s at the Prefontaine Classic. Though he’s looked fatigued lately, Gatlin believes Tebogo’s rest before Worlds will make him dangerous again.
“Don’t sleep on Kenny [Bednarek] in the 200 either,” Gatlin noted.
Veterans like Erriyon Knighton and Zharnel Hughes, along with rising talents like Jamaica’s Bryan Levell and the U.S.’s Courtney Lindsey, also earned Gatlin’s attention.
Lindsey, in particular, has flown under the radar with a quietly spectacular season, including a 19.87s runner-up finish at the Prefontaine Classic and wins in Rabat and Doha.
Lyles Still the Man to Beat, But For How Long?
Despite the competition, Gatlin emphasized that Lyles remains the top dog, but only just.
“The more Noah races heading into Worlds, the better he’ll be,” Gatlin said.
“But this 100 is not going to be a walk in the park.”
Lyles is confirmed for the USATF Championships, and while he doesn’t need to win to make the World Championships, his competitive spirit won’t allow him to back down.
With the likes of Bromell, Bednarek, and Hicklin hungry for glory, the showdown at Nationals could be a defining moment in U.S. sprinting this season.
