Amid the excitement surrounding the Paris Olympics, there have been many competitors who have caught the attention of the track world. Noah Lyles is one of the top track athletes who has earned a place in the hearts of fans through his previous performances during critical seasons.
The American athlete has also expressed an interest in competing in other categories, including breaking Usain Bolt’s long-standing 200-meter world record later this year. However, at this moment, he is completely focused on his 100-meter races, as evidenced by his recent appearances.
On June 1, Lyles will compete in the Racers Grand Prix at Jamaica’s National Stadium, and here’s a breakdown of his 100-meter results this Olympic season:
Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek go head-to-head on the straight
After a successful indoor season in which he won two silver medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, the six-time world champion took a well-deserved break before returning to the track to begin his outdoor season at the Tom Jones Memorial.
On the grid, however, was his Team USA teammate Kenny Bednarek, who was also preparing for his 100-meter season debut. Both track stars were the focus of the fans’ attention from the start of the race, and they engaged in a furious duel, leaving the grid behind a running perfectly parallel to each other.
While the fans waited for one of them to cross the finish line first, they both tied with a 10.01 time, which surprised everyone. It was the six-time world champion’s first outdoor race, and he came close to finishing in under 10 seconds. While it was conceivable to attain that time in a season-opening, Lyles did not regret his run because he was hungry for more.
Storming through the Bermuda Grand Prix
When Noah Lyles arrived at Flora Duffy Stadium, he faced a competitive grid, with Canadian rival Aaron Brown at his side. There were other competitors, but the crowd’s attention was focused on both of them as track favorites.
Lyles didn’t set a fast pace from the start, but as the race approached 50 meters, the six-time world champion geared up and passed them all, reaching the finish line in 9.96 seconds. This time also set a standard for the athlete, as he crossed the 10-second mark and is now in shape to challenge for the world lead (which is currently 9.90) in the Racers Grand Prix.
According to Watch Athletics, the Jamaican event will include several races, including the 100-meter race, which will take place at 9:35 PM EST. There will be many competitors to watch out for, but the track world will be focusing on Lyles for a potential world lead.
