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From Kishane Thompson to Ferdinand Omanyala, Pulse Sports looks at the top five fastest men in the world in 2024.
The men’s 100m has seen the emergence of new stars like the Jamaican duo of Kishane Thompson, and Oblique Seville among other sprinting stars who have defined the season with record-breaking performances.
The 100m has not seen faster times being recorded and the world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt is still not within reach and might take a lot of time before any athlete gets closer to that time. This article will aim to look at the top 5 fastest 100m runners who have shaped the sprinting landscape this season.
The 5 fastest men in the world in 2024
1) Kishane Thompson
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The Jamaican sprint king might not have won the Olympic title but his time still stands out as the fastest in the world. Thompson has had a history of struggling with injuries and finally being able to make an impact this season is a dream for every other athlete trying to make it to the top.
The 23-year-old has been impressive, clocking 9.77 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic trials to win the race and punch his ticket to the Olympic Games where he claimed a silver medal. After the Olympic Games, Thompson suffered injuries and was forced to withdraw from a series of meetings and end his season.
2) Ferdinand Omanyala
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Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala failed to live up to the billing at the Paris Olympic Games and also missed out on the Diamond League Meeting final but he still won in other ways, like ending his season as the second-fastest man in the world.
The Commonwealth Games champion clocked an explosive 9.79 seconds, the second-fastest time in his career after his 9.77 seconds African record time. He ended his season with a win in the men’s 100m invitational at the Diamond League Meeting in Brussels.
Next season, Omanyala hopes to have a great bounce back with the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan being every athlete’s dream.
3) Noah Lyles
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Noah Lyles shocked everyone at the Paris Olympic Games, winning the men’s 100m final in a time of 9.79 seconds to cross the finish line. Thompson was a favourite to win and the men’s field was a quality one but Lyles defied all odds to claim the win. The time is now his personal best and the third-fastest in the world.
Lyles tested positive for COVID-19 and could not continue the winning streak to the 200m where he won a bronze medal. After the Olympic Games, Lyles ended his season and he has an even bigger responsibility at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan where he intends to defend his titles.
4) Fred Kerley
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The American sprint king is the real definition of showing up when it matters and he has always maintained a great run and is one of the most talented sprinters in the world. Kerley could not miss being among the top 5 fastest men in the world this year.
At the Olympic Games, when all eyes were focused on other athletes, Kerley surprised everyone with a 9.81 seconds third-place finish in the men’s 100m final. He went on to finish third at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
5) Oblique Seville
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He might have missed winning a medal at the Paris Olympic Games despite being in great shape but Oblique Seville is a great executor of the 100m and that has seen him post impressive times.
This season, Seville has also been the only athlete who threatened Noah Lyles’ dominance, beating the American at the Racers Grand Prix and the men’s 100m semifinal at the Paris Olympic Games.
When beating Lyles in Paris, Seville clocked a personal best time of 9.81 seconds, improving his personal best time to cross the finish line. At the Racers Grand Prix, Seville clocked 9.82 seconds for the win.
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