U.S. Olympian Christian Coleman, a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School, won the silver medal in the 100 meters at the World Athletics Championships in London on Saturday.
Coleman ran the event in 9.94 seconds, eclipsed only by Justin Gatlin’s gold-medal time of 9.92 seconds. World superstar Usain Bolt of Jamaica finished third for the bronze medal, in 9.95 seconds.
According to the Guardian newspaper, Coleman was leading the event after 70 meters.
Coleman defeated Bolt in the semifinals with a time of 9.97 seconds to Bolt’s 9.98.
The Mirror newspaper in London wrote that Coleman “could be the heir to Usain Bolt’s throne.”
Coleman, who ran track for the University of Tennessee, took first place in the 100 meters at the NCAA championships in June, with a time of 10.04 seconds. Two days before he won the national title he ran a 9.82, setting an NCAA record.
He ran a 9.95 time in the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials last year and was a member of the U.S. track team at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
