Noah Lyles targets Olympic success with new personal best

In an impressive start to the Olympic year, Noah Lyles showcased his exceptional speed by smashing his personal best in the 60m event at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. The reigning world champion in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m from the last August world championships, Lyles crossed the finish line in 6.44 seconds, eclipsing his previous best of 6.51 set at the same Boston meet a year ago.

Expressing his ambitions, Lyles declared, “We’re coming after everything. All the Olympic medals. I don’t care who wants it. It’s mine.” Despite the 60m not being his specialty, he clinched victory by a mere one hundredth of a second, overtaking Jamaican Ackeem Blake.

Fred Kerley, the world 100m champion preceding Lyles in 2022, finished fourth with a time of 6.55 in his inaugural indoor meet racing at that distance. Lyles, renowned for his prowess in the 200m sprint, secured his first 100m medal last year.

Reflecting on his outstanding performance, Lyles expressed surprise at his form, stating, “I knew I was in shape, but I didn’t know I was in that shape.” His new 60m time has elevated him to the seventh-fastest in American history in this short sprint.

Highlighting his previous achievements, Lyles mentioned breaking the American 200m record at the 2022 world outdoor championships after setting an indoor 60m personal best (6.55) in February 2022. He notably became the first man since Usain Bolt in 2015 to win the 100m and 200m at the same world championships.

24hscore Looking ahead, Lyles has plans to compete at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships, aiming to secure a spot on the world indoor championships team for the first time. The upcoming focus for Lyles and his fellow Americans is the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June, where the top three in most events will earn a place on the team for the Paris Olympics.

In other events on the same day, American Grant Holloway continued his exceptional record in the 60m hurdles, extending a win streak dating back to March 2014. As the three-time reigning world champion in the 110m hurdles, Holloway clocked 7.35 seconds, triumphing over a competitive field that included 2022 World silver medalist Trey Cunningham, 2023 World bronze medalist Daniel Roberts, and emerging talent Cordell Tinch.

The men’s 1500m witnessed 20-year-old Hobbs Kessler holding off 2022 World outdoor champion Jake Wightman of Great Britain. Kessler’s time of 3:33.66 makes him the third-fastest American in history indoors, following Yared Nuguse and Bernard Lagat. Wightman returned to competition for the first time since January 2023, overcoming a season of injuries that caused him to miss the entire last outdoor season.

In a dazzling start to the Olympic year, Noah Lyles showcased his exceptional speed by smashing his personal best in the 60m event at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. The reigning world champion in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m from the last August world championships, Lyles crossed the finish line in 6.44 seconds, eclipsing his previous best of 6.51 set at the same Boston meet a year ago.

Key Points:

Versatile Sprinter: Noah Lyles, known for his dominance in the 200m, surprised many with his outstanding performance in the 60m, an event not considered his specialty.
Ambitious Goals: Expressing his ambitions for the upcoming Olympic year, Lyles confidently declared, “We’re coming after everything. All the Olympic medals. I don’t care who wants it. It’s mine.”
Narrow Victory: Despite the 60m not being his primary event, Lyles secured victory by a mere one hundredth of a second, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in different sprint distances.
Fred Kerley’s Performance: Fred Kerley, the world 100m champion preceding Lyles in 2022, participated in his first indoor meet at the 60m distance, finishing fourth with a time of 6.55.
Transition from 200m to 100m: Lyles, renowned for his prowess in the 200m sprint, secured his first 100m medal last year, demonstrating his ability to excel in various sprint categories.

Lyles’ Reflection:

Notable Achievements:

Upcoming Plans:

Looking ahead, Lyles has plans to compete at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships, aiming to secure a spot on the world indoor championships team for the first time. The upcoming focus for Lyles and his fellow Americans is the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in June, where the top three in most events will earn a place on the team for the Paris Olympics.