9.79 seconds – That’s all it took for Noah Lyles to prevail victorious at the 100m finals in Stade de France. With a poor start, the 27-year-old trailed behind most of his competitors. The odds looked to be in favor of his Jamaican rival, Kishane Thompson. However, the reigning champion turbocharged past everyone, giving the world an iconic photo finish. With the world’s closest 100m final, the American won by five-thousandths of a second! 

With his stellar win, the sprinter is in the 3rd place on the 100m fastest time for this season. However, the Olympic 100m champion is currently training behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who clocked in 9.77 seconds and 9.79 seconds respectively. Looks like the American vs. Jamaican rivalry remains as heated as ever. Even though he won on the world’s biggest stage by setting a new personal best, fans haven’t seen him on the tracks since his Summer Games stint in the French capital. After drawing the curtains on this season, this will remain his best time so far. 

But has he always had the fastest time? Let’s take a look. Noah Lyles started this season with a bang on April 13 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. Amid a stacked lineup, the 27-year-old edged out compatriot Kenny Bednarek, winning the 100m in a blistering 10.01 seconds. Interestingly, the 100m world champion was five-thousandths of a second quicker at this event as well. Looks like exciting photo finishes might be his thing. 

Onto the Bermuda Grand Prix next! The world champion had every intention of winning after settling for a second-place finish in 2023. The Flora Duffy Stadium witnessed him pick up speed towards the final 10 meters. And with 9.96 seconds, the 27-year-old had finally achieved what he aimed for. At the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, the sprinter faced his first loss in 2024. Clocking 9.85 seconds, he had to settle for a second-place finish with his first legal sub-10 time.

Noah Lyles turned heads at the U.S. Olympic Trials by clocking in a staggering 9.83 seconds at Hayward Field, and with this, he was on his way to the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, he made a quick stop at the London Diamond League. The sprinter locked horns with Letsile Tebogo, Zharnel Hughes, and more. But no one could keep the 27-year-old away from an effortless win. He crossed the finish line with a new PB of 9.81. However, even though he was getting faster, he hoped to “dip under the 9.80.” That is exactly what he did in Paris! How does his standing compare to last season’s? 

Noah Lyles improved upon his PB from 2023

The sprinter shocked the world on August 20, 2023, when he claimed a new title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Much like his electrifying victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 27-year-old started behind the race leader, Christian Coleman. But by the 60-meter mark, he shifted into high gear, blazing across the finish line in 9.83 seconds—a new personal best. This victory not only crowned him world champion but also vaulted him to 2nd place on the 100m fastest time list for 2023.

In 2023, the sprinter was further down the ranks, finishing 5th with a time of 9.85 seconds at the Xiamen Diamond League. Last year, it was all about American dominance, with Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman securing top spots. But in 2024, the competition is heating up. While Thompson holds a comfortable lead this year, the race for the top is tight. Jamaica is closing in on the U.S. lead, with the sprinter and Fred Kerley both clocking 9.81 seconds, landing them in 3rd and 4th place respectively. Fellow Jamaican Oblique Seville keeps pace, also clocking in at 9.81.

Though this sprinter has already cemented his status as one of the best, he might have to wait before shaving any more time off his incredible record. With the competition tightening and records falling, the chase for greatness is far from over.