Noah Lyles Claims 100m Title with Record-Breaking Speed at USA Championships

Lyles Dominates the 100m Race

Olympic champion Noah Lyles solidified his reputation as the top sprinter in the world by clocking a remarkable 9.77 seconds to secure the men's 100m title at the 2026 USA Track and Field Championships held on Friday (local time). This victory marks his third national title in this event.

After a slow start, Lyles surged ahead in the final moments at Icahn Stadium, celebrating his win in his signature style. "Yes sir!" he exclaimed, raising his arms in triumph.

Ronnie Baker finished in second place with a time of 9.88 seconds, while defending champion and two-time Olympic 200m medallist Kenny Bednarek also recorded 9.88 seconds to take third. Lyles' training partner, Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion, came in fourth with a time of 9.93 seconds.

Lyles' winning time surpassed Jamaican Oblique Seville's previous best of 9.82 seconds, set at the Jamaican Championships last month, making it the fastest 100m time of the year.

'I'm Still the World's Fastest Man'

Lyles expressed confidence in his performance, stating he expected to run under 9.80 seconds based on his training. "Yeah, I knew that 9.7 was coming," he remarked.

He believes this performance sends a clear message to his competitors as they prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. "I think I made an 'I'm still the world's fastest man' statement. If they're playing around, then I must be winning tag," he added.

Despite a less-than-ideal start, Lyles described the race as one of the best of his career, noting his composure helped him catch up to the leaders. "Technically, I think it was the best race I've had so far," he stated.

He credited his coach's guidance and Coleman's quick start for helping him maintain focus during the race.

Looking Ahead: No Signs of Slowing Down

Lyles has no plans to slow down, even though this year is considered an 'off year' in the international athletics calendar. The eight-time world champion is set to compete in the men's 200m on Sunday, where a win would grant him a record sixth US title in that event.

"Shoot, I'm just having fun. Just because it's an off-year doesn't mean that I plan to run slow. I'm not showing up to run slower. This is me being me. Being me is dominant. Being me is consistent," Lyles declared.

With his world-leading performance, Lyles is poised to continue his dominance in the sprinting world.