June 29, (THEWILL) – The expectation of record-breaking performances in the track and field events of the XXXLL Olympiad gained currency when Erriyon Knighton not icky became the youngest male to make the US Olympic track and field team in nearly 60 years but also acquired two big record-busters under his belt.
In qualifying, the 17-year-old finished the finals for the men’s 200-meter race in third place to punch his ticket to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. This came just a day after he breezed to finish ahead of the others in semifinals with a time of 19.88 seconds.
Compared against the Under-20 time of track and field record-setting legend Usain Bolt, that finish undercuts the record of 19.93 seconds set by a then-17-year-old Bolt in 2004. The young American speedster has improved lift and whizzes through the tracks with the efficiency of a fast cat.
Knighton proved this especially in the finals of the American qualifiers when proceeded to beat his own previous record. He finished the 200m at 19.84 seconds, shaving off a further four extra seconds from his better-than-Bolt time. Although he was third, the teenager was against a 23-year-old Noah Lyles, who finished in 19.74 seconds, and a 22-year-old Kenny Bednarek with a 19.78 seconds finish time.
This happens to be Knighton’s second shot at knocking off a Bolt youth record record in recent events. At an American Track League meet in Florida on Monday, May 31, Knighton ran the 200 in 20.11 seconds to break Bolt’s Under-18 record from 2003 of 20.13.
These are all indices by which the continued progress by the teenager promises the world the prospect of a new champion of the sprints, cast in much the same mould as the now retired Jamaican King of 100m and 200m and renowned Olympian, Bolt.
To show he has the right mindset to pursue this objective of ruling the sprints with his speed, Knighton counts Bolt, Lyles, and retired sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson as among his inspirations. There is a sense of his grooming giving him the discipline to forge ahead so as to reach their level and exceed it as he has begun already.
He has done enough to qualify as the youngest American man to make the Olympic track and field squad since Jim Ryun qualified for the 1,500-meter race in 1964, also at the age of 17. He can build on that, with the benefit of youth on his side, to a great career in track and field.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
