The London Diamond League on July 19, 2025, is shaping up to be a 100m showdown for the ages. The stadium is buzzing, the track is gleaming under the lights, and a lineup is stacked with speed demons like Noah Lyles, Akani Simbine, Oblique Seville, Kishane Thompson, and Zharnel Hughes.
It’s the kind of race that gets every track fan’s heart pounding, with London’s notoriously fast track promising times that could rewrite the season’s narrative. Lyles, the Olympic 100m champion, is no stranger to stealing the show, but whispers of doubt are creeping in. Can he hold off a field this fierce?
Track analysts are having a field day picking winners in this star-studded 100m. While Lyles’ blazing 9.83s Olympic gold in 2024 makes him a fan favorite, not everyone’s sold on him for London this time around. Enter Aeron Brown, the Canadian sprint legend and Olympic gold medalist. “I’m pegging Noah for that third-place finish,” Brown said on CBCSports’ YouTube channel, his tone brimming with conviction. Instead, he’s all-in on Akani Simbine, the South African sprinting juggernaut who’s undefeated in 2025. Brown’s reasoning? Simbine’s got the psychological edge, having “beaten everybody who’s been thrown at you.” But what makes Simbine such a lock?
Simbine’s 2025 season has been nothing short of electric. He kicked things off with a world-leading 9.90s at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, followed by a 9.99s in Xiamen and a 9.98s victory over Kishane Thompson in Shanghai. “He’s on another wave,” Brown gushed, noting Simbine’s dominance early this season. That win over Thompson, who clocked 9.99s to Simbine’s 9.98s in China, looms large. Add in London’s lightning-fast track, and Brown’s betting on a 9.8-second scorcher from Simbine. “He’s already ran, what, 9.9, and I feel like a 9.8’s on deck,” Brown said. Could anyone challenge that kind of firepower?
Still, Lyles isn’t out of the conversation, and neither is Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, whose 9.83s personal best makes him a threat. Brown acknowledged Seville’s potential but noted his best came on home turf. “I’m not sure anybody else is gonna come with that, possibly Oblique,” he said. As the clock ticks down to July 19, the question hangs in the air: can Lyles defy the doubters, or will Simbine’s undefeated streak carry him to glory? Who’s your pick in this sprint showdown?
Noah Lyles just won 200m at Monaco, beating Letsile Tebogo
Well, the Monaco Diamond League on July 12, 2025, lit up the track world as Noah Lyles stormed to victory in the 200m, clocking a season-best 19.88s into a -0.8 m/s headwind. Outpacing Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, who finished at 19.97s, Lyles flipped their rivalry’s script, now leading 3-2 head-to-head. From the gun, Lyles owned the first 160m, his signature rhythm pulling him clear in the final stretch. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder: is Lyles untouchable in the 200m this season?
Credits: Imago
Lyles’ 2025 has been a masterclass in sprinting. Kicking off with a 19.77s 200m at the Athlos NYC, he’s been relentless, blending raw speed with that trademark swagger. His 100m game isn’t far behind, with a 9.83s at the 2024 Olympics proving he’s a dual-threat. In Monaco, he showed why the 200m is his domain, as track analyst Aeron Brown noted on YouTube: “He’s just got the rhythm, the race pattern down to a tee.” Brown believes Lyles’ early career as a 200m specialist gives him an edge. Can he carry this momentum forward?
With the World Championships in Tokyo looming, Lyles’ Monaco win sends a message. Tebogo, despite his 19.46s world lead, couldn’t match him here. Is this the start of Lyles’ 200m reign in 2025?
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