The men's and women's 100-meter at the ongoing National Games in South China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have delivered more than two new  champions, but more importantly they have presented a refreshing portrait of China's rising force in track and field. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

The men's and women's 100-meter at the ongoing National Games in South China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have delivered more than two new  champions, but more importantly they have presented a refreshing portrait of China's rising force in track and field. 

Sixteen-year-old sprinter Chen Yujie from East China's Zhejiang Province clinched the women's 100m title with a new Asian U20 record of 11.10 seconds, while Li Zeyang of Hubei stormed to victory in the men's 100m with a time of 10.11 seconds as a dark horse on Monday. Chen became the youngest women's champion in the event's history.

"The young athletes have set new examples in track and field. I hope to see more young people challenge the records of their predecessors. Only when we build a collective advantage can we achieve breakthroughs on the international stage," Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

In the men's 400 meters, Liu Kai, 19, secured the title with a time of 45.77 seconds. Liu, who has broken the national record three times this year, has set his sights on the 2026 Asian Games. Another 19-year-old, Yu Shuiqing of Liaoning, came in first in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final with a time of 8 minutes and 40.15 seconds. 

The rise of this new generation stems from something far more concrete than potential or promise: They have the results to back it up. Chen's record-breaking run isn't just a milestone in her personal career - it signals that she has already entered the top tier of Asian sprinting. 

Their emergence shows that China's pipeline for developing young talent is progressing. Whether in established strengths or in events once seen as weak spots, the growth is visible. The achievements of Chen, Li, and others illustrate an improving system capable of nurturing world-class competitiveness from a younger starting point.

What moves us is not just their medals - it's the spirit and the mindset they compete with. 

When the dust settled, Li told reporters something that resonated far beyond his personal win: "We grew up watching our predecessors, and we want the senior athletes to feel assured. The future of Chinese sprinting will be carried by athletes of our generation. We also hope to see Chinese track and field go farther and grow stronger."

Chen also paid tribute her veteran teammates after her victory and highlighted  responsibility to carry on the legacy of Chinese women's sprinting.  

"Today I won this gold medal while competing alongside 'big sister' Wei Yongli, who took the silver. The legacy of Chinese women's sprinting has truly never been broken. I believe that women's sprinting will continue to flourish, generation after generation," said Chen. 

As China charts its path toward becoming a global sports powerhouse, Wang noted that it is crucial to build an athletics culture starting with schools, because track and field is the mother of all sports.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn