Are we witnessing the next generational talent in the sprints?
On Saturday, Issam Asinga The Top Celeb 5K Times of 2024 DAA Industry Opt Out.
Lyles was quick to congratulate Asinga on his achievement Noah Lyles’ previous record of 20.09 from 2016.
Australian Sprinter, 16, Runs Record-Breaking 200m, tweeting, “Yo I’m so happy to see this. This is the first HS that stayed in HS to run sub 20. I knew he would do it and I’m just glad that I’m here to see it. 🥹 Congratulations again!”
The 200-meter high school record, however, isn’t the fastest time ever run by a high schooler (confusing, I know). That honor belongs to Erriyon Knighton, who ran 19.84 during the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 as a junior and later ran 19.49 during his senior year. But because he signed a professional contract with Adidas at age 16—thereby forgoing the remainder of his high school eligibility—the record is Asinga’s for now.
Earlier on Saturday, Asinga posted another impressive performance, this time in the 100 meters, edging out James Dadzie in a wind-aided 9.89 seconds. Asinga now owns the top three high school 100-meter times in history, in all wind conditions. Dadzie, of Ghana, would later beat Asinga in the 200 meters in 19.79 seconds—the fastest time in the world this year.
This isn’t Asinga’s first time in the high school history books. In March, he ran 6.57 to tie the 60-meter high school record, and he destroyed the record in the 200 meters, running 20.48 at New Balance Indoor Nationals.
Asinga is committed to run at Texas A&M University next year, but will his dominance in the sprints inspire him to follow in the footsteps of Knighton and Lyles and turn professional straight out of high school?
Theo Kahler is the news editor at Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner who has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
