Noah Lyles Erases Michael Johnson’s Almost 30-Year Record To Destroy Christian Coleman At US Track & Field Trials

Another legend falls at the hands of Noah Lyles. The 26-year-old just ran a stunning 19.60 seconds in the men’s 200m semi-final race to scoop yet another win at the US Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Oregon. Lyles significantly reduced his time from his 1st round race of the event that took place yesterday, and with that, he also shattered an almost three-decade-old record. The final race was only better than the last.

Track icon Michael Johnson boasted the US Olympic Team Trials record in the men’s 200m race with his stellar 19.66-second run in 1996. Noah’s latest feat shared through an emphatic post by Travis Miller on X, announces that a change in the record books is in order.

Noah also edged past the likes of track heavyweight Christian Coleman, who came in second place with 19.89 on the clock. Only days ago, Coleman’s 100m ambitions for the French capital were shattered by Noah himself as the former failed to finish the race among the top three, resulting in his departure from the road to Paris. On the other hand, in that race too, Lyles picked up the winning spot as he matched his personal best of 9.83 seconds to pick up yet another victory over his formidable national peers. But his victories at the US Team Trials are only the tip of the iceberg.

On June 30, in the men’s 200m final race, Noah showed his winning mentality in all its glory once again as he won first place with a jaw-dropping 19.53 on the clock. As of now, this will be considered as the US Olympic Team Trials record in the event going forward.

Eye of the Tiger mentality ft. Noah Lyles

Noah walked away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with only a bronze medal to boast in the 200m race. However, he worked his to the top over the next few years, determined to carve out a place for himself among the elite names of the sport. In the months before the Paris Games, Noah went as far as claiming that the French capital would witness him usurping the throne of Usain Bolt, as he revealed that he would be heading to the Olympics with the goal of winning gold in four major events (100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m).

Keeping parity with his words, Noah has recorded more achievements in recent months than ever before. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Lyles scooped three gold medals (100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay) and has maintained his composure well into 2024 as well.

In April this year, Lyles won first place in men’s 100m races at both the Tom Jones Invitational as well as in the Bermuda Grand Prix and followed those up with another victory at the Racers Grand Prix earlier this month in Kingston, Jamaica. He has been equally mesmerizing in the 200m events with a win at the NYC Grand Prix. If these weren’t enough Lyles also anchored the USA’s win at the Bahamas World Relays.

Evidently, days at the office have been nothing but impeccable for Lyles off late. Now, with one step closer to following up on his big words it remains to be seen if Noah can first secure another victory in the men’s 200m finals tomorrow to punch his ticket to Paris for his second event.