Eugene: Is Erriyon Knighton the next Usain Bolt? The question is pretty much doing the rounds in everyone’s minds after the 17-year-old’s recent exploits at the US Olympic Trials in Oregon, Eugene. The Florida native also became the youngest ever to make the American track and field Olympic squad since 1964.
Knighton made headlines earlier in the month when he smashed Bolt’s 18-year-old U-18 men’s 200m record at the American Track League meet clocking 20.11s bettering the Jamaican’s 20.13s set in 2003.
But he did not stop there. Knighton once again broke the legendary Bolt’s (19.93s) record at the U-20 level when he clocked 19.84s to clinch the third position in the men’s 200m at the US Olympic Trials (Track and Field) to make the Tokyo Olympics cut.
“I did good. I’m on the team. I’m 17. I can’t complain with that,” Knighton said in the post-race press conference. “It will probably sink in when I get home,” Knighton said of his performance. “It’s a really big achievement,” he added.
The rising Tampa Hillsborough High School senior solidified his status within the United States team, finishing just behind Noah Lyles (19.74s) and Kenny Bednarek (19.84s). It’s true that Knighton still needs to shave some milliseconds off before he can break Bolt’s current 200m record time of 19.19s, but with the form, the kid is in, nothing is impossible.
It should also be noted that Bolt didn’t reach the 19.84s mark until he was almost 21 years old. Knighton also became the youngest American male to make the US Olympic Track & Field team since Jim Ryun ran the 1500m in 1964.
