Olympic champion returns to sprint showdown with Tebogo; 60,000-strong crowd expected for blockbuster track and field action
Lyles Set for First 100m Race of 2025 at Star-Studded London Meet
Reigning Olympic champion Noah Lyles will make his much-anticipated 100m season debut at the London Diamond League this Saturday, reigniting his rivalry with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo. The event is expected to draw a sell-out crowd of 60,000 to the iconic London Stadium, setting the stage for one of the most exciting legs in the 2025 Diamond League calendar.
The meet features athletes who have collectively won 75 medals at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and the 2024 Paris Olympics, promising a high-voltage afternoon of track and field action.
🔥 Event Highlights: 5 Must-Watch Races at London Diamond League
🏃♂️ Men’s 100m – Lyles vs. Tebogo Round 2
- Noah Lyles returns for his first 100m race of the season, having defeated Tebogo in the 200m last week in Monaco with a strong 19.88 seconds performance.
- Letsile Tebogo, 2024 Olympic 200m champion, will look to rebound after finishing second to Lyles in Monaco.
- Lyles: “It’s been tough watching the season from home, but I’ve had time to work and now it’s go time.”
- Lyles benefits from a bye to the US Trials, giving him more flexibility to fine-tune his racing.
- British stars in the mix: Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu, and Louie Hinchliffe.
- Strong international field includes Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine.
🏃♀️ Women’s 200m – Julien Alfred Leads Formidable Lineup
- Julien Alfred arrives with momentum after a dominant 10.79s win in Monaco’s 100m.
- “This season I’m focusing on myself. No pressure,” Alfred said.
- Britain’s challenge: Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Amy Hunt.
- USA’s Brittany Brown adds depth to the competitive field.
🏃♂️ Men’s 1500m – British World Champions Return Home
- Jake Wightman (2022 World Champion) and Josh Kerr (2023 World Champion) headline the men’s 1500m.
- Both famously beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who has now withdrawn due to injury.
- More British firepower: Neil Gourley, George Mills, and Elliot Giles.
- Top seed: Kenya’s Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech holds the fastest time of the season – 3:27.72.
🏃♀️ Women’s 800m – Muir and Reekie Eye Glory
- No Keely Hodgkinson due to injury, but Britain’s Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie, and Georgia Hunter Bell aim to deliver at home.
- Top international contenders: Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi and Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin.
🏃♂️ Men’s 800m – Wanyonyi Chases Rudisha’s Legacy
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi, reigning world champion from Kenya, leads a strong field targeting David Rudisha’s legendary 1:40.91 world record set at the 2012 London Olympics.
- With multiple contenders peaking this season, this could be one of the fastest 800m races in recent years.
