A year ago, Christian Coleman squeezed onto the Rio Olympic team, but only in the relay pool. Noah Lyles just missed the Olympic team at 18 years old. Ronnie Baker, Cameron Burrell and Fred Kerley didn’t come close at the trials in Oregon.
Those men, all 23 years and younger, combined to set personal bests this spring (some drastically), notch Diamond League victories and capture NCAA titles. They dot the top of the 2017 world rankings in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
They are the new American sprint forces going into the USATF Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, beginning Thursday (broadcast schedule here).