‘Easy dub!’ Really? When Noah Lyles is in the mix, you can’t expect things without some twists and turns. How? The six-time world champion was scheduled to face Lamont Marcell Jacobs on February 2 in Boston. The two Olympic champions will be entering the 60m indoor battle at the Ralph Mann Memorial and credit goes to New Balance for the tribute.

The sports shoe brand changed its men’s 60m indoor event’s name, this time in honor of the late sports scientist who once played a vital role in Noah’s athletic development. However, the indoor race was going to be Noah’s season opener. Also, remarkably, Noah’s season-opening race could be the first time he and Jacobs compete head-to-head in the indoor 60m. The anticipation was high. But wait, there’s a slight change in the script!

No, Noah Lyles has yet to change his schedule, set for February 2 in Boston. But the Ralph Mann Memorial is not going to be his season opener. As rather, in the upcoming Saturday, the Florida native will grace the men’s 60m indoor event at the Radd Sports College Invitational. Notably, FloTrack is working as the prime sponsor of the meet and the brand has gathered a few stunning names on the indoor track to keep the quotient high. Such as? 

No, the Radd Sports College Invitational doesn’t have massive names as New Balance Indoor events usually do. However, the competition won’t be one-sided. Noah Lyles might have to break a sweat to end the event before his competitors. So the names? All are well-known to the reigning Olympic champion. After all, they’re his training mates. Yes, on Saturday, Noah will have his training mates from the Florida-based Adidas running facility on the indoor track. The names are Israel Olatunde, Udodi Onwuzurike, Caleb Dean and Jaylen Slade. A familiar yet tough fight on the paper! But for the fans, Lyles’s decision might carry a different vibe. 

Last season, Noah Lyles entered the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a bang. In his opening race, he took 6.44 seconds to conclude the men’s 60m event. On the same day, he appeared in the final and remained fiery enough (6.54 seconds) to take the crown, defeating his opponents. Notably, the 6.43 seconds timing is Noah Lyles’s personal best in the indoor 60m event achieved in USA Indoor Championship in February 2024. 

In 2023 as well, Noah started his athletic season with the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Well, the result was the same—his clean victory. But things were different in 2022. Noah registered in the indoor 60m event at the Millrose Games before the New Balance contest. A jaw-dropping victory didn’t come to him, though, in the Armory Track & Field Center. With the clocking of 6.62 seconds, Lyles could settle only for fourth place. But in a week, he came back stronger and set 6.56 seconds as his mark to win the title in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. What could be his target this time, however? 

Noah Lyles has several barriers to tackle in the indoor season 

Christian Coleman, Kishane Thompson, and Trayvon Bromell—track and field sports lovers would surely keep an eye on those names in the coming days of the indoor season. Noah Lyles’s potential rivals? Absolutely. Last year, Coleman came at the top in the men’s 60m final in the World Athletics Indoor Championships. He overpowered Noah, where the latter’s career-best timing (6.44 seconds) failed to help take the top podium. Kishane Thompson, the Jamaican star in the corner? Five days ago, Kishane concluded his first 60m race this season in 6.48 seconds. Not so well? He sealed the top position, facing the headwind of -2.1 m/s. A tough job for any athlete on any track! 

And what about Trayvon Bromell? In 2016, he became the youngest man to win the men’s 60m title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Well, last week, in his opening race, Trayvon took 6.62 seconds to conclude his 60m race. And he has had a few things settled with Noah Lyles on the indoor track. So? Aren’t those battles hinting at witnessing a season full of contests and drama?