Former AAU Track Star, Erriyon Knighton, Runs Historic Sprint
05/09/2022
Former AAU sprinter Erriyon Knighton ran the 200m in 19.49 seconds — a time that only three other men have ever beaten: Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Michael Johnson.
Original article posted at NBC Sports, By Nick Zaccardi
18-year-old Florida sprinter Erriyon Knighton is already in elite company. On April 30, at the LSU Invitational, he ran the 200m in 19.49 seconds — a time that only three other men have ever beaten: Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Michael Johnson.
Now a pro, Knighton ran AAU track in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, he ran the fastest high school 100m at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Brevard County, Fla.
His early success led him to the US Team Trials for the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year. At just 17-years-old at the time, he became the youngest man to race in an individual Olympic track final in 125 years.
Knighton ended up finishing fourth in the 200m with a time of 19.93 seconds, just missing out on qualifying for the Games.
Last month’s race was his first since the Tokyo Olympics, and he beat his previous personal best of 19.84 by shaving off .35 seconds. His results show he’s just getting started.
To read more about Erriyon Knighton’s rising star status, visit NBC Sports.
Watch Knighton's record-breaking performance at the 2020 AAU Junior Olympic Games.
18-year-old Florida sprinter Erriyon Knighton is already in elite company. On April 30, at the LSU Invitational, he ran the 200m in 19.49 seconds — a time that only three other men have ever beaten: Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Michael Johnson.
Now a pro, Knighton ran AAU track in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, he ran the fastest high school 100m at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Brevard County, Fla.
His early success led him to the US Team Trials for the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year. At just 17-years-old at the time, he became the youngest man to race in an individual Olympic track final in 125 years.
Knighton ended up finishing fourth in the 200m with a time of 19.93 seconds, just missing out on qualifying for the Games.
Last month’s race was his first since the Tokyo Olympics, and he beat his previous personal best of 19.84 by shaving off .35 seconds. His results show he’s just getting started.
To read more about Erriyon Knighton’s rising star status, visit NBC Sports.
Watch Knighton's record-breaking performance at the 2020 AAU Junior Olympic Games.
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