Noah Lyles vs. Christian Coleman Showdown Set to Be Upended by Record-Holding African Sprinter

Noah Lyles vs Christian Coleman will be the biggest rivalry unfolding again in the 60m sprint at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. While Lyles is hungry for his first World indoor medal, Coleman is looking to avenge the USATF loss. The odds are even but may not remain as the African 100m Record Holder aims to disrupt the proceedings in Glasgow.

Lyles and Coleman for sure will be the favorites. While the former is in a rich vein of form, the latter is a 60m World Record holder, and can never be ruled out. But so has the Africa’s fastest man been leapfrogging his timings.

Africa’s fastest man aims to disrupt Noah Lyles vs. Christian Coleman

Africa’s 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has been in the best of his form in the last few weeks. He has bettered his 60m time thrice in the last week, and in doing so, the 28-year-old has broken his Indoor National record twice. He posted 6.62 in the semi-final heat of the 60m Elite Indoor Track Miramas Meeting on February 2nd, and a day later, timed 6.52 seconds to break his own national record of 6.54 seconds set last year.

Omanyala later took center stage in Meeting de Paris on February 11 and once again smashed his personal best. The Commonwealth Games champion posted 6.51s to win the title, and will now line up alongside the likes of Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, and Ackeem Blake for his maiden World Indoor title. Omanyala took part in the 2022 World Indoor Championships but was eliminated in the semi-finals. Just like Coleman leapfrogged from 6.51s to 6.44s at the USATF Indoor Championships, he will aim to make a better jump to steal the spotlight from arch-rivals.

Can Coleman better his timing once again?

Christian Coleman sprinted for the first time this year at the Milrose Games and clocked 6.51 seconds to win the 60m title. His World Record reads 6.34 seconds, implying he could easily better his timing to beat Noah Lyles at the USATF Indoor Championships, who last clocked 6.44s at the New Balance Grand Prix. 6.44s marked Lyles’ best, but as Coleman matched the timing of the USATF clash, the reigning World Champion ran faster.

Lyles smashed his personal best once again to win the National title in 6.43 seconds. With 100m and 200m World titles already in his bag, he is itching to complete the sweep with the 60m indoor World title, and there’s a strong possibility he will be faster than the previous time. On the flip side, Coleman made a 0.07-second jump last time and will need to be faster than 6.4s to hold onto his dominance. Can he do it?

READ MORE: Noah Lyles Sidelined as Former Track and Field Veterans Chooses Christian Coleman as Favorite for the USATF Indoor Championships