Erriyon Knighton again breaks World Youth Record in 200m 20.04

Last Updated on July 6, 2023 by Andrew Pirie

Erriyon Knighton again breaks World Youth Record in 200m 20.04

26 June 2021

Surprisingly 17-year-old Erriyon Knighton stole the thunder at the 2021 US Olympic Trials.  Knighton won the first heat stopping the clock in 20.04. The mark surpassed the US High school record of Noah Lyles 20.09. But and did not count it as Knighton turned Professional back in January.

However, Knighton, in his first race against his idol, defeated Lyles in Heat 1. Lyles came in second in 20.19, and Fred Kerley, who had finished third in the 100m in a 9.86 PB, took third in 20.41. This gave Knighton the leading time in the US Nationals 200m, with the semi-finals later today. 

The mark of 20.04 improved on the Knighton World Youth record of 20.11 set earlier in the year. Knighton broke the World Youth (U18) record of Usain Bolt at 20.13. Usain Bolt still holds the record for 17-year-olds and World Junior (u20) records at 19.93. Both marks are well within reach for the speedy teenager.

 

Erriyon  17, Drops an Insane 9.99 For 100 Meters

May 3, 2021

Over the weekend, two very fast high schoolers showcased the Florida Pure Athletics Sprint meet in Clermont, Florida. Erriyon Knighton and Jaylen Slade are two names to watch for in the years to come by. 

Better known as 200m Runners. Slade and Knighton both had impressive performances in the 100 Meter Dash. Going toe to toe with two veteran Caribbean sprinters in both the heats and finals. 

It was a sizzling fast Heat 1 with 3 men aided by a +2.7 m/s tailwind under 10 seconds Cejhae Greene of Antigua won in 9.98 from former World Champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica in 9.98. Erriyon Knighton clocked a fast 9.99 at 17 years of age. The 17-year-old wind-legal record is 10.01 by Yoshihide Kiryu of Japan, set in 2013.  Jaylen Slade was 4th in 10.03.

This improved his PB of 10.29 as a 16-year-old.

It marked the third time since 2013 an American U20 athlete broke 10 seconds, following the likes of Matthew Boling (9.98, +4.2) in 2019 and Trayvon Bromell (9.99, +4.0) in 2013. 

Heats

1 cejhae green PUMA MVP International 9.98 (9.974) +2.7 m/s q

2 Yohan Blake adidas 9.98 (9.978) +2.7 m/s q

3 Erriyon Knighton Adidas 9.99 +2.7 m/s q

4 Jaylen Slade IMG Elite 10.03 +2.7 m/s q

5 Aleigh Mc Intyre CPTC – Tracksmith 10.78 +2.7 m/s q

6 Oraine Palmer Wisdom Athletics 10.79 +2.7 m/s q

7 Jason Paris Unattached 10.84 (10.840) +2.7 m/s q

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Finals

1 cejhae green PUMA MVP International 10.02 (10.016) +2.1 m/s

2 Yohan Blake adidas 10.02 (10.019) +2.1 m/s

3 Devin Quinn RunUXpress 10.03 +2.1 m/s

4 Jaylen Slade IMG Elite 10.04 +2.1 m/s

5 Erriyon Knighton Adidas 10.07 +2.1 m/s

6 Julian Forte MVP Track & Field Club 10.19 +2.1 m/s

7 Chijindu Ujah Unattached 10.36 +2.1 m/s

8 Jevaughn Minzie Titans 10.52 (10.513)

In the finals, Greene narrowly held off Blake. Slade made It 1-1 against Knighton winning by just .03 seconds. The eagerly awaited match-up led to a tie. Both young men timed wind-aided 10.0 times.

With Letsile Tebogo of Botswana with the wind-legal 10.14 world junior leading time. It will be exciting at the World Juniors in Kenya with Slade and Knighton, the top 2 200m guys looking to challenge the 100 Meters.

 

Sources:

https://www.milesplit.com/articles/296417/erriyon-knighton-17-drops-insane-999-for-100-meters

 

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