Noah Lyles Reacts After Blazing 9.79 Victory

Noah Lyles delivered another statement performance on Friday night, powering to a world-leading 9.79 seconds to claim his third United States men’s 100m title at the US Athletics Championships in New York and reinforce his status as one of the world’s premier sprinters.

The reigning Olympic champion overcame a slow start before unleashing his trademark finishing speed over the final 30 metres, leaving his rivals trailing as he crossed the line comfortably ahead of the field. Veteran Ronnie Baker finished second in 9.88 seconds after edging Kenny Bednarek, who was awarded third with the same time, while former world champion Christian Coleman settled for fourth in 9.93.

Lyles’ winning mark equalled the personal best he set while winning Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 and also improved on the previous world-leading time of 9.82 seconds established by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville during the Jamaican Championships in June. The performance further underlined the American’s consistency as he builds towards another major international season.

“In my head, the distance was already made up,” Lyles told broadcaster NBC of the early gap he erased. “Coach said ‘put my hand in their pocket, don’t let ’em get away.’

“I saw where Christian was and I said: ‘Oh yeah, my hand is all the way in there,’ and I just pulled him back and I did what I do,” added Lyles.

The victory showcased the confidence that has become synonymous with Lyles’ racing style. While several sprinters exploded from the blocks, the Olympic champion remained composed before accelerating with devastating efficiency in the closing stages. His powerful finish has repeatedly separated him from the rest of the field throughout his career, and Friday’s race offered another reminder of why he remains the athlete to beat over 100 metres.

For Baker, the runner-up finish represented an encouraging return to the top end of American sprinting after battling injuries in recent years. Bednarek also continued his strong form by securing a podium finish, while Coleman was left searching for answers after failing to match the late acceleration of his rivals.

Lyles will have little time to celebrate as attention quickly shifts to the 200 metres, where he is scheduled to begin his campaign with the heats on Saturday. The event has long been considered his strongest discipline, and another title would cap an impressive championship weekend.

The women’s 100 metres also produced an eye-catching performance as Sha’Carri Richardson returned to the top of the national podium. The 2023 world champion clocked 10.77 seconds with a legal tailwind of 0.9 metres per second to capture her third US title in the event.

Richardson gradually separated herself from training partner Kayla White, who crossed the line second in 10.90 seconds, while Tamari Davis completed the podium in 11.00 seconds. It marked an encouraging comeback for the American star after a difficult 2025 campaign that saw her miss out on a medal while defending her world title.

“It just feels phenomenal to be back in a better place, just healthy mentally, physically and emotionally,” Richardson said. “Everything me and coach have been working on, it’s starting to show consistently.”

Her victory reflected months of rebuilding following a challenging season and suggested she is rediscovering the form that established her among the fastest women in the world. Richardson’s smooth transition through the middle phase of the race proved decisive as she steadily pulled clear of the chasing pack before easing across the finish line.

Unlike previous seasons, there were no World Championships or Olympic team selections at stake during this year’s national championships. That unique calendar prompted several established stars to either skip events entirely or focus on different disciplines as they fine-tuned preparations for the remainder of the season.

Among the biggest names absent from the women’s 100 metres was Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The sprint star, who swept the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles at last September’s World Championships, chose to bypass the shorter sprint and instead begin her campaign in the 200 metres on Saturday.

The men’s 400 metres produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening day after Olympic champion Quincy Hall failed to progress beyond the heats. Hall finished with a time of 46.47 seconds, placing only 16th overall and ending his championship far earlier than many expected.

Khaleb McRae led the qualifying times in the one-lap event after posting an impressive 44.65 seconds, sending a strong message ahead of the later rounds while capitalising on Hall’s unexpected exit.

Another athlete attracting significant attention was teenage middle-distance sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus. The 17-year-old, who has already secured two Diamond League victories during his breakthrough campaign, comfortably booked his place in the men’s 800 metres final after winning his heat in 1:45.83.

Lutkenhaus recorded the third-fastest qualifying time of the opening round behind Wes Ferguson, who topped the standings in 1:45.17. The teenager continues to build momentum in what has already become one of the most remarkable debut seasons on the elite circuit.

Former world champion Donovan Brazier, however, endured disappointment after failing to qualify for the final. Brazier, who famously held off Lutkenhaus to win last year’s national title, could not replicate that form as the emerging generation continued to reshape the event.