Ex-USA Track Star Exposes USATF’s Inconsistencies in Noah Lyles’ Relay Pick in Glasgow

The 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships have been home to thrilling records, exciting news, and intense rivalries. While each has held its space in the limelight, the final day’s 4 X 400m controversy between Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, and USATF stirred the community to leave behind a divided audience.

“y’all play that favoritism,” Fred Kerley, the 4x400m Worlds silver medalist reacted as Noah Lyles made it to the roster over him. While the dust has settled over the 3-day spectacle in Glasgow, spectators’ view over the two’s case continues to persist around the community. From reasoning to wrongs, the audience has stepped up today to scrutinize the selection procedure.

USATF suffers backlash over procedure observations

The Raes Take TV on Wednesday took to X to share a view of the ‘World Athletics Indoor Championships Selection Procedure’. In the post, former Track and Field star Monzavous “Rae” Edwards posted details that isolated the relays to present all the regulations and conditions they stood to adorn. From an athlete’s ability to pass the baton to an individual’s willingness, and experience, the brochure touched upon numerous aspects. However, it was the latter of the lot, ‘the athlete’s relay experience,’ that caught the track star’s eyes. “We gotta do better! You can’t put one thing in black and white and do something else. People sue for that these days,” the post wrote in criticism.

The reaction arrives following Noah Lyles’ inexperience in relay despite his celebrated excellence elsewhere. The icon is a reigning champion in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. However, 4 x 400m hasn’t exactly been Olympian’s domain while Fred takes the hat with a silver; thus, sparking the controversy. Nonetheless, Lyles executed a notable performance for silver, further offering his opinion on the matter.

Noah Lyles takes a stand for his position

Following Fred Kerley’s remark on USATF’s favoritism, Noah Lyles took to social media to offer a glimpse into his mindset. “I’ve never had somebody tell me something that has thrown my out-of-the-box thinking to inside-the-box, but that was like: okay, I’m not going to say no to that,” he wrote. Noah further reflecting on his Budapest journey reasoned saying he knew the potential of his body which allowed him to take on the challenge on his own accord.  “If they allow me, if they need me and they are willing – let’s go, let’s take it,” he writes.

Also Read: 2 Olympic Champions Rally Behind Noah Lyles Amid Controversy Over USATF’s Alleged Favoritism

The Olympian ran the third leg and received the baton in first place. He further handed it off as received in a 45.68-second split. However, Belgium’s Alexander Doom bested Christopher Bailey at the finish line to let the USA settle for silver. Away from Noah Lyles’ performance, as spectators highlight, the focal point lies upon the management and the decisions it makes in fairness and transparency shaping a sport’s integrity.

Read More: Noah Lyles Calls Christian Coleman “Greatest in the World” While Opening Up About USATF Indoor Championships Win