“He [ Usain Bolt] was the fastest man ever to do it and soon, it’ll be me.” – claimed none other than Noah Lyles, a six-time world champion sprinter who touched Usain Bolt’s record of making treble in the World Athletics Championships. But how close has he reached to edging someone out from all the pages of the record book who is often regarded as the best ever?

Well, Noah Lyles has been showing spark on the tracks this season while trying out multiple events. In 200m he claimed several podium finishes and in the relay events, the 26-year-old has remained a standout. However, the timings in most of those events have remained far from being Bolt-esque. But in his latest 100m event this year, Noah has crossed paths with the Jamaican legend. Despite that, the track and field fans do not see much hope for him in the upcoming Olympic trials. 

Recently, the NBC Sports Director of Social Media, Travis Miller, has updated that Noah Lyles is all set to contest in both 100m and 200m events in the upcoming Olympic trials in Oregon. In the meantime, compatriot Trayvon Bromell’s absence from the trial should have increased Noah’s chances of being the fan-favorite in the upcoming trials.

His 100m timing of 9.85s at the Racers Grand Prix earlier this month bettered Usain Bolt’s 9.88 seconds from the 2016 Racers Grand Prix. This should also have added further hope. But in contrast, fans are not investing much yearning in his chances of victory. One such fan has claimed that Fred Kerley might come first in the 100m event in the upcoming Olympic trials, defeating Noah Lyles. 

The comment remains as, “•FRED KERLEY will get the 100m .. NOAH LYLES will take home the 200m ..” But Noah’s national relay team member has yet to flaunt his old glory in the sprinting suit this year. Additionally, Fred Kerley’s season-best timing prevails to be 10.03 seconds this season, a whopping 0.18 seconds behind Noah’s. So what made the fan go for the Texan, leaving the Florida man behind? The past of the former may have worked to support such a claim. In their four international head-to-head contests in the 100m event, Fred has come overpowering Noah Lyles, including in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics trials. Such electrifying performances are hard to ignore, whereas Noah has failed to deliver on his promise of achieving “all the medals” in this season so far. 

Even in the Racers Grand Prix 2024, the contest where the 26-year-old world champion broke Usain Bolt’s timing made in 2016, Noah had to digest his defeat from Oblique Seville. The Jamaican sprinter and Bolt’s protégé completed the race in 9.82 seconds, 0.03 seconds ahead of Noah. Such things have been reflected in the fans’ comments made under Travis Miller’s X-post. 

A mixed response takes in Noah Lyles’s fate for the upcoming trials 

In choosing a better prospect than Noah Lyles for the 100m event in the upcoming trials, several fans have backed PJ Austin. One such fan has penned, “Idk but PJ Austin is a lock for the 100”. 

The 23-year-old American sprinter has faced defeat from Noah this year in the Bermuda Grand Prix. However, his scintillating rise to fame in a short duration has worked for him. But the reigning world champion’s prowess in the 200m has not been ignored fully. Meanwhile, several fans have backed Noah Lyles’ chances in the 200m event. But at the same time, they have suggested a few words for the 100m event. 

One such comment remains, “I can see hin winning the 200m but he has to work on that start if he wants to win the 100m. This is the Olympics, many athletes are coming for that 100m title.” The part, lacking a few useful factors, had been present in Usain Bolt’s voice as well. After analyzing Noah Lyles’ development, the Jamaican behemoth once said, “I think if he corrects a few things – I won’t say – he could get better.” But Bolt wasn’t ready to share the tips. “I won’t tell you how to break the world record.” 

Therefore, in such a situation, as per a fan, Noah “will try” to stay in the vicinity of the podium to finish. Taking a jibe on that part, one fan retorted, “He will get 5th in the 100 and 3rd in the 200”. Still, in reality, the situation may not be that bleak. Noah has already posed himself as a force to be reckoned with and who does not know that he has a knack for coming back heavily when the criticism puts in under the dark cloud? See his comeback at the 2024 World Relay Race in the Bahamas, despite facing a truckload of bashing in Glasgow this year. Still, do you think that Noah Lyles won’t come well in the 100m trials? Let us know.