Threat to Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley, 17-Year-Old Christian Miller Takes World Lead in 100m, Breaking U20 American Record

Looks like Noah Lyles has more Christians to take care of rather than only Coleman! Creekside HS senior Christian Miller just stunned everyone by winning a 100m sprint in a jaw-dropping 9.93 seconds. The USATF U20 champ’s latest clock time at the Pure Athletics Invitational is a world lead that has understandably put the likes of Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley on notice.

With the win, Miller progressed to his fastest time in the event from last year, which saw him breeze into the national headlines after clocking an impressive 10.06 at the USA U20 Championships. And now, as the track and field team trials arrive in June, Miller will be locking horns with the big boys and the nation’s fastest names should take note.

In the latest Twitter post by Citius Mag, the teenager’s achievement was given a nod with the caption “17-year-old Christian Miller just dropped a 9.93 for 100m today in Florida. ” Along with that, the post also mentions that it was last year’s U20 event that got many talking about his meteoric rise as something that Noah Lyles might turn his head to. “Last June, @TheRealMerb kind of warned Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley that this kid was coming.“, reminds the post. 

The adjoining clip features Christian Miller speaking just after he won the 200m title in 20.45 at the New Balance Nationals Outdoors last year. The host had asked him how it felt seeing himself closing in with the likes of Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley. The humble athlete called it crazy while also adding, “Almost two years ago, I’d be watching all the college athletes and the professional…I just think man I just wanna be out there running fast or even close to their times…and now I’m progressing closer and closer…”

A year later, he has moved even closer, it seems. While the young Turk might be eyeing some upsets at the team trials, his road to the national team won’t be a hall pass, either. If not Noah Lyles, there are other heavyweight contenders who are all vying for a spot in Team USA in hopes of making it to the French capital. And Lyles himself has been gaining momentum as well.

The big boys wait to give Miller a taste of the real deal

Lyles’ outdoor season debut saw him clinch another gold in the 100m event at the Tom Jones Memorial 2024, where he edged past Kenny Bednarek and clocked 10.01 to earn his victory. While this is visibly a higher time than Miller’s latest, the 26-year-old has much more steam in his engine for when he needs to. The 2023 World Championships saw Lyles reaching mind-numbing speeds where he bagged three gold medals and also recorded his personal best in the men’s 100m race with 9.83 seconds. However, he still has a long way to go if he wishes to make history by snatching away Usain Bolt’s high throne at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

On the other hand, the 17-year-old recorded his fastest 200m at the New Balance Nationals Outdoors clocking 20.45, which is also significantly slower than Lyles’ (19.31). If the rising track and field prodigy aims to go toe to toe with the likes of the six-time world champ, he will have to improve drastically in the coming weeks and make his mark at June’s national trials to secure his berth to Paris.