One of the biggest track and field competitions, the Prefontaine Classic draws elite competitors and ample opportunity for media coverage. This year, Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s rivalry took center stage.  Last month Noah Lyles had expressed his excitement about that battle. But recently he took a different stance on the role of the media to highlight the rivalry. According to him, the media exaggerated this matchup.

On May 25, Josh Kerr won the Bowerman Mile at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic 2024 clocking a stunning time of 3:45.34. He established a world record and shattered a 39-year-old British mile record. Yared Nuguse came in third, behind Wanda Diamond League champion Ingebrigtsen in second spot. Although the race was amazing, Lyles’ criticism shows how the media shapes sports stories.

After winning the NYC Grand Prix 200m, Noah Lyles appeared for a conversation with the“Track World News,” YouTube episode. “The energy was natural, back and forth. It didn’t need to be egged on,” Lyles remarked when he was asked about the attention the Kerr-Ingebrigtsen rivalry got. His annoyance is rooted in his perception that the media attempted to create turmoil rather than allowing the athletes’ accomplishments to speak for themselves.

In further detail, Lyles said,  “I feel the media kind of dropped the ball on that one.” He made clear that encouraging a rivalry calls for more than simply athletic individuals exerting themselves alone. “You can’t sit them in a room and say, ‘Okay, fight.’ It doesn’t work like that,” Lyles noted. He added that creating a true rivalry is a process that the media does not cover. Lyles conceded that the race was exciting despite all the criticism. “The track meet itself and the race did not disappoint,” he said. This demonstrates how different the real events are from the media’s hype, which lacked the thrill and spirit of competition.

Noah Lyles’ dissatisfaction with the media

According to Lyles, the media should combine communication and sincerity in moderation. The goal of events like the Prefontaine Classic is to spark curiosity and enthusiasm. But according to Lyles, these initiatives shouldn’t take precedence over the players’ natural drive. “Build them into it.” The 26-year-old continued, “There’s a process to this,” highlighting the significance of taking a more natural approach. However, this is not new Lyles has voiced his feelings on the media.

The 6x world champion has taken issue with how commentators and the media cover world records in the sport of track and field. In particular, he took issue with a tweet from Citius Mag that questioned the potential of up-and-coming competitors to break Usain Bolt’s records.

Noah Lyles believes it to be unfair and placing unnecessary pressure on athletes. Lyles stressed the value of encouraging athletes to pursue their objectives instead of criticizing them based on prevailing opinions. Noah Lyles stated, “I actually don’t like this headline.” His remarks are a reflection of his discontent with the generally negative tone of these talks. However, he feels it might unfairly harm players who are trying to make a name for themselves in the sport. Thus, the media needs to captivate individuals without using made-up drama. This calls for a grasp of the competition’s interactions, the participants, and their motives. It also calls for supporting the players and the sport’s purity.