“The Hayward magic is real.” Those five words from Christian Coleman—spoken with a nostalgic glint in his eye—capture more than just admiration for a track. They echo a story of growth, redemption, and quiet triumph written over the years. Back in 2015, a young Coleman first stepped onto Hayward Field’s sacred oval for the men’s 100m at the Eugene USA Junior Championships. He was fast—10.18 seconds fast—earning a second-place finish. But it wasn’t about winning then. It was just the beginning. Years passed. Coleman grew, stumbled, fought back, and flew again. Through Olympic trials, national showdowns, and moments that tested his spirit, Hayward was there. But perhaps nothing symbolizes that connection more than his back-to-back victories at the Prefontaine Classic in 2023 and 2024. Those wins stitched Coleman’s name into the fabric of the event’s storied history. But then…
In 2023, Christian Coleman blazed to victory in 9.83 seconds. In 2024, he repeated the feat with a 9.95. Back-to-back titles at the Prefontaine Classic had set the stage for a potential historic third—something only Justin Gatlin had achieved in the 100m, with his three-peat from 2012 to 2014. Heading into the 2025 edition, Coleman acknowledged the weight of the moment, saying, “I think it will be a really big breakthrough for me… “ But then came Saturday, July 5. And everything unraveled!
The same Hayward Field that once watched a young college freshman chase the sky now bore witness to that same athlete faltering—falling short not just of a title, but of the legacy he had hoped to etch in stone. On July 5, Christian Coleman clocked 10.06 seconds in the men’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic, but it was a race to forget. He suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of Kishane Thompson, who stormed to victory in 9.85 seconds. Coleman ended up in seventh place—well off the podium and far from his usual form. To add to the disappointment, he was outpaced by rising teenage star Bayanda Walaza, who finished sixth in 10.04 seconds. And in the ever-heated USA-Jamaica rivalry, the sting was sharper: Ackeem Blake, another Jamaican sprinter, crossed the line ahead of Coleman in fifth with a time of 10.03 seconds. For Coleman, it was a day of bitter truths and missed moments.
9.85s!!
Kishane Thompson runs 9.85s (0.4) to win the men’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic, the first Diamond League victory of his career!
Zharnel Hughes was brilliant in 2nd, clocking 9.91s, while Trayvon Bromell finished 3rd in 9.94s.
4. Brandon Hicklin 9.98… pic.twitter.com/w87b3M4aDz
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) July 5, 2025
The report is developing…
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