Eugene, Oregon – Reigning World and Olympic champion Noah Lyles, 28, made a strategic decision on Friday, withdrawing from the semifinals of the men’s 100m at the US Track and Field Championships in Oregon.1 His withdrawal comes despite a comfortable victory in his opening heat on Thursday, where he clocked a time of 10.05 seconds, which was the fifth fastest of qualifying.
Lyles’s Guaranteed Spot and Olympic Gold
Lyles, who famously won gold in the 100m at last year’s Paris Olympics, is already guaranteed a spot on the US team for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo in September. This automatic qualification stems from his status as the reigning 100m world champion (from 2023) and also the reigning 200m world champion (from 2019, 2022, and 2023).
Prioritizing Race Fitness and the 200m
Speaking after his 100m heat, Lyles clarified his decision, emphasizing the need for more race exposure after a delayed start to his season due to an injury. “I need races — everybody knows I started the season late due to injury,” Lyles stated. He had recently been beaten in his first 100m of the season at the London Diamond League on July 19.
His primary focus at the US Championships now shifts entirely to the 200m event.6 “I just need as many races as possible. After the 100 in London, me and my coach were like ‘We might as well (race at trials)‘. It’s a free race, it’s good competition.” Lyles confirmed his intention to run all rounds of the 200m in Eugene, indicating his preparation for Tokyo.
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