June 7, 2017. Eugene. The stage for the NCAA Division 1 100m semifinals was set. And Tennessee’s Christian Coleman was locked in. The man was on a mission. And in 9.82 seconds, he accomplished it. He etched the fastest time in the world and an NCAA record! Commentators were losing their minds. “What a time. WOW!” Well, it’s been 8 years to that day, and his record still stands. Or does it? Because an 18-year-old high schooler just tried his luck at shattering it. Did he succeed?

‘Records are meant to be broken,’ they say. But Christian Coleman can confidently question: Are they? After all, the man’s known for having some really long-standing records in track and field. For example, his 60m world record—7 years, and no one’s even come close to it. Let alone the NCAA young guns, even elites haven’t. But many have dared. Just like Maurice Gleaton recently did for the 100m.

Yes, we’re talking about none other than 18-year-old Maurice Gleaton here. The American who is a 12th grader at Langston Hughes High School just ran a blistering 10.01s run in the 100m finals at the Bob Hayes Invitational, Florida. Right from the upright position to the finish line, the boy was in the lead. But in the final few meters, he was so far away, that it looked like he was running in an entirely different time zone. And yes, it marked a new 100m personal best!

However, Gleaton’s 10.01s, though incredible enough, could not beat Christian Coleman’s 9.82s NCAA record set in 2017. So yes, Coleman’s dominance remains unchallenged. But the next few days may turn the table. Considering this was just Gleaton’s first 100m run this season, he still dipped from a 10.73 in the prelims to a 10.01 in the finals. And the latter was a 0.23-second improvement from his previous personal best. Also, he came 0.19 seconds too close to leveling times with Coleman. So yes, it might be possible that the teen dips a little below the 10-second barrier.

Let’s look at the boy’s 100m progression over the past few years, and you’ll notice a substantial improvement. In 2022, his 100m season best was a sluggish 11.14. Yes, in the world of track and field, those extra milliseconds could easily categorize him as slow. But in 2023, he didn’t give the critics a chance. Straight away chipping a whole second from that, Maurice Gleaton clocked a 10.14. More or less stabilizing around that, he clocked a 10.24 season best in 2024, and now, he’s dipped that to an all-time low this year. Still, if he’s eyeing Christian Coleman’s NCAA time, that’s going to need a lot more fuel than one can imagine.

But there’s one advantage. The phenomenon has just started. He is still a 12th grader and has many attempts to get to Christian Coleman’s numbers when he goes to Georgia next year.

Christian Coleman’s High School challenger is a future Bulldog

Yes, you heard it. Maurice Gleaton is a Georgia commit and will begin his collegiate career as a Bulldog next year. And they’re definitely going to welcome him with open arms. Just look at his resume, and you’ll know why. If not that, just rewind to what he did this weekend.

Well, Maurice Gleaton’s March 15 10.01s time could have stood as a world lead this season. But he falls under the U18 age bracket, where he surely is the fastest so far in 2025. The next best? A far-off 10.43s! But had he been a senior, Maurice Gleaton would have topped the world lead chart too, being 0.02 seconds quicker than Australian Lachlan Kennedy.

So yes, Christian Coleman better watch his back. Because Gleaton’s coming, and he might just snatch away Coleman’s long-standing records like it’s a cakewalk! But Coleman isn’t slowing down too. So, what do you think? Can Gleaton get the better of Coleman? Let us know below!