Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred are ready for the 100m world championship heats in Tokyo. Both arrive as favorites, but the pressure is on. Rivals from Jamaica and the United States want to stop them.
Lyles Faces Jamaican Power
Lyles had a slow start to the season but found form in Zurich. There, he outran Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion. That win gave him confidence heading into Tokyo.
His toughest test comes from Jamaica. Kishane Thompson, who lost to Lyles by only five-thousandths of a second in Paris, has clocked a world-leading 9.75 seconds. Oblique Seville, another Jamaican, has already beaten Lyles twice this year. Sprint legend Usain Bolt believes the Jamaicans could finish 1-2.
Alfred Carries St Lucia’s Hopes
Alfred made history in Paris by winning St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold. Now, she is chasing another global title. She says she feels “fitter and mentally ready” for the challenge.
But her path will not be easy. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the US is in top form. She won the 100m and 200m at the US trials and owns a blazing 10.65-second personal best.
Big Names and Outsiders
The men’s race could also feature a surprise from Tebogo, who is always dangerous over the shorter sprint.
On the women’s side, 38-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will run her last world championships. With five world titles at 100m, she wants to end her career in style. Defending champion Sha’Carri Richardson is also in the mix, hoping to prove her critics wrong.
The Showdown
The heats in Tokyo mark the start of what could be unforgettable finals. Can Lyles and Alfred hold their crowns? Or will Jamaica and the US challengers steal the spotlight?
