What’s the fastest 100m time for men these days? Well, no surprises—Usain Bolt’s unbeatable 9.58 from 2009 is still sitting comfortably at the top. He was 22 when he made history, and over a decade later, that record hasn’t even been scratched. But what about more recent times in track and field? In 2024, Kishane Thompson tore up the track with a blazing 9.77. Fast forward to 2025, and Bayanda Walaza is now making headlines with a 9.99 at just 19! Crazy, right? Looks like the young guns are taking over!

Speaking of young track and field stars, we’ve already talked plenty about Quincy Wilson, who grabbed Olympic gold at 16 (now 17), and Gout Gout, who shattered Bolt’s record at just 16 (also now 17). But here’s where things get even wilder: there’s a new kid on the block, and he’s already breaking records. How old? 17? Nope. 16? Guess again. 15? Still too high. He’s just 14! Yeah, a 14-year-old phenom is out here rewriting the record books, and even an Olympic legend can’t stop raving about him!

Dillon Mitchell, the lightning-fast kid from Houston, TX, and C.E. King High School is turning heads and leaving jaws on the floor. This 2028 ATH (athlete) isn’t just running, he’s flying. And if you think that’s an exaggeration, just ask Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, who couldn’t stop talking about him on Ready Set Go podcast on March 23. Green was shook, saying, “Dillon Mitchell with 10.07 as a freshman.” Like, seriously? 10.07 as a freshman?! That’s not just fast—that’s mind-blowing!

Gatlin, who’s been keeping an eye on this track and field star Mitchell, was just as speechless. He talked about meeting the kid and described him as quiet and humble, but with crazy speed. Gatlin admitted he expected Mitchell to maybe run 10.4 as a freshman at best, but when the kid hit 10.35, Gatlin had to reach out. “I told him, ‘Hey man, I didn’t run 10.35 until I was a senior!’” And just when you think that’s impressive, Mitchell went and outdid himself. As Gatlin put it, “The next week, he doubles back and runs 10.2 with a little tailwind. But then he comes back again and drops a 10.0!” Like, what?!

Going from 10.07 to 10.0 that quickly? This kid isn’t just breaking records, he’s rewriting the whole script. And Gatlin’s reaction says it all. Watching a freshman hit times that most pros dream of? That’s unreal. And track and field fans? Oh, they were losing it. The comment section was lit up with praise.

Fans go wild over Mitchell’s track-and-field lightning

One track and field fan practically screamed online: “10.04 at 14 years old is NUUUUUTS!!!” Another couldn’t wrap their head around it, adding, “DA HELL?!!😮” And they weren’t alone. Another fan broke it down, saying, “I don’t think ppl understand to run a 10.07 AS a freshman means that if he actually continues to develop by senior he hitting 9.90 maybe even 9.80.” Yeah, Dillon Mitchell’s speed has everyone’s jaw on the floor—and for good reason.

Back in early March, Mitchell shocked the track world by setting the national freshman record in the 100m. He ran 10.35 seconds on March 7 and came back even faster with a 10.29 on March 8. That performance wasn’t just impressive—it was downright ridiculous. And as fate would have it, College programs took notice immediately. Before the weekend, Mitchell had offers from Texas State, Arkansas, Sacramento State, and UIW. But after those insane times?

Bigger names like Houston, Texas Tech, SMU, Florida, Grambling, Georgia, Baylor, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Marshall jumped in—all within about 90 minutes. Even Mitchell was surprised. His previous best was 10.45, so dropping that much time and rewriting the record books wasn’t something he fully expected. And it’s not just on the track where Mitchell shines—he’s a star on the football field too. Last season, he led his team to a perfect 10-0 record while racking up 1,400 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns.

Another track and field fan couldn’t believe it, asking, “Is he for real?” Someone else was just as stunned, adding, “Absolutely insane. 10.04 at 14.” Well, with that kind of speed, the future’s looking pretty bright. Looks like a new star is on the rise!