Jamaica’s Oblique Seville set the world's fastest 100m record. GETTY IMAGES

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville set the world’s fastest 100 metres time of 2024, clocking 9.82 seconds, to defeat reigning world champion Noah Lyles at the Racer Grand Prix on 1 June.

The 23-year-old exceeded his own expectations with this performance, helped by a tailwind of 0.9 m/sec, breaking his previous personal best of 9.86. Seville dominated the race, with American star Lyles finishing second in 9.85, just shy of his personal best of 9.83. 

“I feel good,” Seville said. “I’m a little surprised. It’s special to be able to run so fast without too much specific work. It shows that I can still do better.” Lyles praised his opponent post-race, “I’m seeing everybody else in the world, and you know me. Oblique is leading the world right now by leaps and bounds," he said.

The Jamaican, coached by Glen Mills, former mentor to the legendary Usain Bolt, has been seen as a potential heir since Bolt's retirement in 2017. Seville has earned notable placements in recent major championships, finishing fourth in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics and in the 100m at the world championships in 2022 and 2023.

Seville's dominant race allowed him to outpace Lyles, whom he defiantly eyed at the finish line. Both sprinters surpassed the previous best 2024 time of 9.93, set by Americans Christian Miller and Kendal Williams. 





Lyles, who won titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, remains a top contender for the Paris Olympics. “I was satisfied with the performance. I was disappointed in the gunmen. Half of us weren’t even set before the gun went off... that’s very disappointing to see," Lyles added.

Saint Lucia athlete Julien Alfred, 22, set a 2024 world-best in the women’s 100m with a time of 10.78 seconds, aided by a 1.3 m/s wind. Jamaicans Krystal Sloley and Sashalee Forbes finished second and third, respectively. The 60m indoor world champion demonstrated her potential to contend for gold in France.

Jamaican 19-year-old Jaydon Hibbert, the junior world record holder, achieved a leap of 17.75m to win the triple jump (with a -0.7 m/s wind), setting the best world mark in 2024. Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, the world 60m hurdles indoor champion, won the 100m hurdles in 12.64 seconds (1 m/s wind), while American Trey Cunningham claimed victory in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.12 seconds (0.8 m/s wind).