Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson have recently kicked off their 2025 seasons with 60m races but how their times compare against the all-time greats in the event?
Olympic champion Noah Lyles and silver medalist Kishane Thompson have launched their 2025 athletics campaigns with 60m races, delivering performances that have sparked conversations about their early-season form.
Thompson opened his season in style at the Central Hurdles, Relays, and Field Events Meet in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 18.
The Jamaican sprinter clocked an impressive 6.48 seconds, solidifying his reputation as one of the rising stars of the sprint world.
Thompson followed this up with another victory at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 25, winning the men’s 60m with a time of 6.56 seconds.
Noah Lyles may have recorded a winning start to the season he could not match what his track rival Kishane Thompson managed hours earlier.
While slightly slower than his season opener, the performance secured his place among the top contenders this season.
Meanwhile, Lyles began his 2025 season at the RADD Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, on January 25.
The Olympic champion recorded identical times of 6.62 seconds in both the heats and the final, earning him victory but falling short of the high standards set by sprinting’s elite.
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Kishane Thompson has shared how he stays focused on his training and blocks out external noise to maintain his performance on the track.
Lyles’ performance, though solid, ranks joint 682nd on the all-time list for the 60m. This pales in comparison to his personal best of 6.43 seconds, which places him joint 10th historically.
The men’s 60m all-time leaderboard is led by Christian Coleman’s blistering 6.34 seconds, followed by Maurice Greene (6.39), Ronnie Baker (6.40), and Andre Cason and Marcell Jacobs (6.41).
Lyles’ personal best ties him with the upper echelon, but his season opener highlights the work he has to do to regain his peak form.
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Kishane Thompson has embraced a series of firsts, from seeing snow and touching it to making his indoor debut in Astana.
Thompson’s season-opening 6.48 seconds ranks joint 34th globally and fifth among Jamaicans, while his 6.56-second win in Astana places joint 256th. These results suggest he has the edge over Lyles early in the season, but both athletes will aim to improve as the year progresses.
The pair were the stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they headlined a thrilling 100m final. Both clocked 9.79 seconds, with Lyles edging Thompson by mere milliseconds. Fred Kerley took bronze in that unforgettable race.
Looking ahead, Lyles is set for another high-profile 60m showdown at the New Balance Grand Prix in February, where he will face former Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs.
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The veteran tactician has explained some of the unspoken secrets to success and challenges athletes face in track and field.
Meanwhile, Thompson’s consistent early-season performances position him as a serious contender for the indoor season.
As the 2025 track season gains momentum, both Lyles and Thompson will look to lower their times and assert dominance in the 60m. While Lyles has the pedigree and star power, Thompson’s rapid start suggests he could emerge as a major rival in the sprints this year.
