What is the essence of track and field? Is it the speedy geniuses running faster than the wind? Perhaps. But to most, the track is all about making and breaking records. And in the case of one 17-year-old Texan, this is the only anticipation each time he steps foot on the track. In fact, just the other day this guy ran 100m in just 9.99s at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet Invitational in College Station. In the process, he also became just the second Texan ever to deliver a sub-10-second 100m But he wasn’t done. Just this weekend at the Nike Indoor Nationals, he once again won. But Noah Lyles might not be too happy with that. Why? Well, the teen just called himself The fastest man in the world.

Now you might ask, who is this guy? Well, his name is Brayden Williams. A senior from Duncanville High, the youngster recently bagged himself the 60m title at the indoor event. But while the Texan looked better and better the farther he went, it wasn’t what he did in the race that caught everyone’s attention. Just as he finished his race with a time of 6.62, the young sprinter was asked how he felt. After all, just a few days ago, he was running 100 meters, and now he was flung to the shorter format.

To this question, Williams had quite an answer. He simply said, “Nah, I know my mindset. I know I’m the fastest man in the world, especially in high school. So, it is what it is. So, I’m just happy to be, like I said, the fastest man in both events that I run.” Now then, that is quite a bold statement coming from a teenager. The title of ‘fastest man in the world’ is not an easy one to grab. But the way Williams has been sounding confident, he might as well take the tracks on fire in his upcoming races.

Next up, after two back-to-back mesmerizing performances, Williams was asked the obvious question. What is motivating him to push himself so much at such a young age? And the reply did come as a surprise. Williams mentioned that, as someone who is not very old, he just wants to enjoy his time on the tracks. And that was the source of all his motivation. 

He continued, “Just that I’m a kid and I’m having fun. As long as I’m having fun and just doing what I do, doing what I love to do, I’m winning. I’m winning in every aspect of my life, so I’m just happy to be here.” Meanwhile, his claim of being the fastest man on the planet seems a bit far-fetched at this point. However, let’s have a look at how his timings fare beside the best of the best.

Does Brayden Williams’ timing hint at a bigger picture?

At just 17 years old, Brayden Williams has already etched his name into the sprinting conversation with a blistering 6.62 seconds in the 60 meters. While that mark is impressive on its own, it becomes even more intriguing when stacked against the sport’s biggest names and milestones. Noah Lyles clocked a 6.43 earlier this year. The time undoubtedly reflects his dominance as a seasoned champion.

However, he clocked the same at 26 years of age. Meanwhile, Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history over 100 meters, was calculated to have hit the 60-meter mark in 6.32 seconds during his iconic world record run in 2009. While Lyles and Bolt reached their peak speed in their mid-20s, Williams is already producing numbers that hint at extraordinary potential.

Williams’ performance becomes even more impressive when viewed in the context of the world record. Christian Coleman’s 6.34-second mark from 2018 remains the gold standard. Yet Williams’ 6.62 at such a young age suggests he may be closing in on elite territory far sooner than expected. 

This early success might raise one question in your mind. How fast can Williams get as he matures and refines his race? His 6.62 at 17 is not just a strong opening statement. Is this a signal that a future sprinting powerhouse may be emerging? The gap between him and the world’s fastest isn’t wide, and if his trajectory holds, it might not be long before he’s challenging records of his own. Noah Lyles, be ready.