Noah Lyles, Akani Simbine, Letsile Tebogo and Kishane Thompson Storm into 100m Final as Ferdinand Omanyala Eliminated in Tokyo Shock

If you thought the men’s 100m semis would be predictable, the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo delivered fireworks, heartbreak, and blistering speed as the eight finalists were decided.

The semifinals produced drama across all three heats, setting up one of the most anticipated 100m finals in recent memory.

World champion Noah Lyles laid down a marker in the first semifinal, running 9.92 seconds (0.1 wind) to qualify comfortably for the final.

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Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi clocked a personal best of 9.93s to secure the second automatic spot, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine ran 9.96s for third and qualified as one of the two fastest losers.

Semifinal 2 was the race of the night as Kenneth Bednarek of the USA edged Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica in a dramatic photo finish, with both athletes credited with 9.85 seconds – the fastest times of the round.

Their friendly stare-down at the finish line was a light-hearted moment for the crowd, a far cry from Bednarek’s tense clash with Lyles at the US Trials earlier this year.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s record holder, suffered a shock elimination after finishing fifth, ending Kenyan hopes of a medal in the men’s 100m. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (10.03) and Canada’s Jerome Blake (10.03) advanced as the fastest non-automatic qualifiers, while Jeremiah Azu was eliminated.

The third and final semifinal saw Jamaica’s Oblique Seville storm to victory in a blazing 9.86s, looking smooth and unchallenged.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo followed with a season’s best 9.94s to take the second automatic qualifying spot, while South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson Leotlela ran 9.97s to claim the final qualifying position for the championship race.

Canada’s Andre De Grasse and Jamaica’s Kadrian Glave both clocked 10.09s but missed out, while Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati Saminu finished fourth in 10.08s, agonizingly close to qualification.

The men’s 100m final lineup is now confirmed: Lyles, Bednarek, Thompson, Seville, Tebogo, Ajayi,Gift and Simbine.

With four athletes having run sub-9.90 this year, fans can expect a blockbuster showdown at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where history could be made under the lights.