The Tom Jones Invitational on April 19 is shaping up to be one of the hottest track events of the season, as Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred headline a power-packed lineup of global sprinting stars.
In a surprising twist, Noah Lyles, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, will kick off his outdoor campaign with a rare appearance in the 400m a race he hasn’t contested since 2016. Lyles will go up against a formidable field including NCAA champion Christopher Morales Williams and 200m world medalist Erriyon Knighton, who recently clocked 45.37s.
On the women’s side, Olympic 100m gold medalist Julien Alfred will line up in the 200m against an elite group featuring:
- Irish sprint star Rhasidat Adeleke
- Nigeria’s Favour Ofili
- Jamaican duo Nickisha Pryce and Stacy-Ann Williams
- Britain’s Daryll Neita and Amy Hunt
Men's 400m entries – Tom Jones Memorial
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) April 16, 2025
🇺🇸 Noah Lyles
🇺🇸 Erriyon Knighton
🇨🇦 Christopher Morales-Williams
🇺🇸 Justin Robinson
🇺🇸 Matthew Boling
🇺🇸 Ryan Willie
🇺🇸 Elija Godwin
🇳🇬 Emmanuel Bamidele
🇺🇸 Chris Robinson
🇺🇸 Jacory Patterson
🇺🇸 Khaleb McRae
🇧🇧Jonathan Jones
– April 19th
The women’s 100m promises fireworks with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Tee Tee Terry, Kayla White, Mckenzie Long, and Thelma Davies battling it out.
In the men’s 100m, fans will witness the first season face-off between Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, and Courtney Lindsey, with tough competition from Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike, Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, and Canada’s Aaron Brown.
Men's 100m entries – Tom Jones Memorial
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) April 16, 2025
🇺🇸 Christian Coleman
🇺🇸 Kenny Bednarek
🇺🇸 Christian Miller
🇺🇸 Courtney Lindsey
🇺🇸 PJ Austin
🇨🇦 Aaron Brown
🇺🇸 Kyree King
🇺🇸 Brandon Hicklin
🇳🇬 Udodi Onwuzurike
🇯🇲 Andrew Hudson
🇱🇷 Joseph Fahnbulleh
🇯🇲 Ryiem Forde
🇩🇪 Joshua Hartmann
The 100m hurdles will see Olympic champion Masai Russel, world leader Tia Jones, and Bahamian talent Charisma Taylor go head-to-head.
Also confirmed for the meet are Olympic 110m hurdles champ Grant Holloway and Steven Gardiner in the 200m, adding more firepower to an already stacked competition.
With so many global stars lining up in Gainesville, Florida, the Tom Jones Invitational is set to deliver unforgettable performances and potential season-defining moments.
