2025 USATF Outdoors: Christian Coleman Searches for the Right Gear Ahead of US Trials

2025 USATF Outdoors: Christian Coleman Searches for the Right Gear Ahead of US Trials. by Deji Ogeyingbo

Christian Coleman once made sprinting look easy. Out of the blocks, he was untouchable. In 2019, the world watched him own the start and ride it to a global 100m title in Doha.

That moment still hangs in memory, sharp and clear.

But now, six years later, Coleman isn’t defending a title; he’s at a point where he’s defending his place in men’s sprinting. As the U.S. Trials approach, Coleman is facing a version of the sport that no longer bends to his rhythm.

He’s no longer the undisputed headliner in the 100 meters. Names like Trayvon Bromell, Kenny Bednarek, and Brandon Hicklin have advanced to the top of the 2025 performance list. Coleman is still in the mix, but the grip is looser.

And in American sprinting, even a small slip means someone else is already stepping in. His results this year haven’t been disastrous. He opened with a solid 10.06 in April at the Tom Jones Memorial. But it didn’t spark a run of wins. Since then, he’s hovered in the low 10.1s. It’s good, but not good enough to win. His latest result, a 10.06 at the Prefontaine Classic, left him seventh in a field that featured Kishane Thompson.

Before that, he ran 10.12 in Philadelphia, 10.11 in Tokyo, and 10.13 in Shaoxing. He hasn’t crossed the line first in any of those races. A few weeks ago, at the Grand Slam meet in Philadelphia, Coleman doubled back for the 200 meters. It didn’t go well. He finished sixth in 20.66, well behind athletes like Zharnel Hughes, Andre De Grasse, and Bryan Levell. That marked five straight individual losses.

For a sprinter who built his name on being uncatchable, that’s a tough stretch. Some of this shift can be attributed to a coaching change. After spending years under Tim Hall, the coach who guided him through college and into pro success, Coleman made a switch last year. Hall’s move to a head coaching role meant fewer personalized sessions.

After missing the team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Coleman wanted a reset. He found it in Florida, joining Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics group. On paper, it looked promising. Mitchell’s group is full of elite talent, and his training style is intense, focused on strength and competition….