Athletics world erupts after teenager breaks Usain Bolt record
American teen sprint sensation Erriyon Knighton has left the athletics world gobsmacked after clinching an incredible piece of history that's sparked more comparisons with Usain Bolt.
The 18-year-old once again lowered Bolt's junior world record and beat his own U/20 world mark of 19.84sec in a scorching run at the Baton Rouge meet in the United States on Saturday.
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Knighton blitzed the field to run home first in a staggering 19.49 seconds, setting the fourth fastest time in the history of the event in the process.
Knighton will have his sights set on the world outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon, (July 15-24) provided he comes though the qualifiers (June 23-26) at the same venue.
The American made headlines around the world last year when he ran an astonishing 19.88 to break Jamaican Olympic legend Bolt's 19.93 world junior record.
He then finished fourth in the 200m final behind Canada's Andre de Grasse at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
However, Knighton's time over the weekend is way ahead of where Bolt was at prior to turning 20 - with the eight-time Olympic gold medallist clocking 19.93sec.
Bolt only managed to breach the 19.5 mark at the age of 21 - leaving Knighton in a league of his own at such a tender age.
The 18-year-old's time blitzed those of sprint legends Carl Lewis and Tommy Smith and places him behind only Jamaica's world record holder Bolt (19.19sec), another Jamaican Yohan Blake (19.26) and American Michael Johnson (19.32) as the fastest men ever over 200m.
Knighton's 19.49 seconds once again lowers Bolt's previous junior world record, which the American himself bettered last year.
Athletics world hails Erriyon Knighton feat
The astonishing effort has lit up social media, with the athletics world excited for what the future holds for the sport's brightest young star.
WORLD U-20 RECORD = 19.49s!!!!!!!!!😱😱😱
18-year-old Erriyon Knighton has just clocked a wind-legal 19.49s (1.4) in his first 200m of the 2022 season at the LSU Invitational!!!
He becomes the 4th fastest man ever at the distance. pic.twitter.com/8lrjgcoxmr— Track & Field Gazette (@Athleticsglobe) April 30, 2022
WORLD U20 RECORD ‼️@ErriyonK 🇺🇸 runs 19.49 (+1.4) to improve his own world U20 200m record by 0.35 at the LSU Invitational!
The 18-year-old is now the fourth fastest man ever at the distance 💪 pic.twitter.com/cY1DCp14Ws— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) April 30, 2022
Erriyon Knighton 🇺🇸 at 18 years old
100m: 10.04s
200m: 19.49s
▪️2nd U18 100m in history (10.16s)
▪️U20WR in 200m (19.49s)
▪️4th in Olympics 2021 (200m)
▪️4th of All times in 200m
Bolt 🇯🇲 (19.19s)
Blake 🇯🇲 (19.26s)
Johnson 🇺🇸 (19.32s)
Knighton 🇺🇸 (19.49s)
🥴 Born in 2004 pic.twitter.com/2jc2YEAsHJ— Victor K Almeida 📰 (@AlmeidaVictorK) May 1, 2022
OH MY GOODNESS 😱
🥇 @ErriyonK | 19.49
🥈 Fahnbulleh | 19.92
🥉 @camel_dorian | 20.00
We just witnessed the fourth fastest time in world history by Knighton. Camel drops a huge PR with a time of 20.00 to become the fourth fastest in LSU history!#GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/AE4QmTYbTN— LSU Track & Field (@LSUTrackField) April 30, 2022
Literally just witnessed @ErriyonK run 19.4..
— S. Grant C. Holloway, OLY, WRH (@Flaamingoo_) April 30, 2022
WORLD U20 RECORD
Oh wow. 18-year-old @ErriyonK has just clocked 19.49 (1.4) in his first 200m of the 2022 season.
Only @usainbolt, @MJGold and @YohanBlake have gone quicker 👀 pic.twitter.com/guqWGz6vZY— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) April 30, 2022
WORLD U-20 RECORD = 19.49s!!!!!!!!!😱😱😱
18-year-old Erriyon Knighton has just clocked a wind-legal 19.49s (1.4) in his first 200m of the 2022 season at the LSU Invitational!!!
He becomes the 4th fastest man ever at the distance. pic.twitter.com/8lrjgcoxmr— Track & Field Gazette (@Athleticsglobe) April 30, 2022
18 year old 🇺🇸Erriyon Knighton just dropped 19.49s to set a new world U20 200m record!
That's the world's fastest time since 2012 Olympics, and he's moved behind 🇯🇲 Bolt (19.19s WR) 🇯🇲Yohan Blake and 🇺🇸Michael Johnson on the all-time list.
Insane!pic.twitter.com/N9NL6Pgg3s— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) April 30, 2022
with agencies
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