Every now and then, a story unfolds that captivates and inspires audiences in track and field. Achieving greatness frequently necessitates overcoming unexpected obstacles. Enter Noah Lyles, a phenomenal American sprinter. Lyles burst onto the international scene in 2016 at the age of 19. He was the youngest male sprinter to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in more than 30 years.
Along similar lines, the stage was set for Noah Lyles as he embarked on a quest to conquer the NYC Grand Prix in June 2023. Lyles demonstrated his willpower by clocking a remarkable sub-20 time in the first round of the NYC Grand Prix, successfully navigating his way through the competition. Little did he know that fate had something extraordinary in store for him—a formidable adversary that would test his mettle like never before.
Noah Lyles’ Horrors of the NYC Grand Prix
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Notably, his performance at New York tied him with Usain Bolt for the most sub-20 second times in a wind-legal 200m race—34 times in total. However, it was following the race, Lyles discovered the shocking truth. After clinching a resounding victory in a blistering time of 19.61 seconds, he had contracted the dreaded COVID-19 virus.
In a recent interview after his race at the USATF Outdoors, Lyles stated that he had to forego training, he said he, “Didin’t train”, in the lead-up to the highly anticipated #USATFOutdoors, Lyles never allowed setbacks to define him.
Noah Lyles says that he got COVID after the NYC Grand Prix and didn’t train in the lead up to #USATFOutdoors. Got cleared to compete on Sunday. Still advanced to the 100m semifinals after running 10.05s in the prelim. pic.twitter.com/cPwdXhEY9M
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 6, 2023
Having diligently followed health protocols and under the supervision of medical professionals, Lyles received the green light to compete on Sunday.
Eugene, Oregon, has been transformed into the track and field epicenter as the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships take center stage. Stepping onto the track, he defied expectations and unleashed a performance that defied belief. In the preliminary round of the 100m event, he blazed through the finish line with an impressive time of 10.05 seconds, demonstrating his remarkable speed and innate talent.
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Overcoming Setbacks with Inspiring Resilience
As the competition unfolds in Eugene, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The meet began on Thursday 6 July and will go on until the 9 of July. The top three will qualify for Hungary. The journey to Budapest hangs in the balance, and the world eagerly awaits the crowning of new champions on the global stage of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in August from the 19 to the 27.
Read more: Despite NBC’s Deal Break With USATF, Noah Lyles Makes a Huge Announcement for the Track World
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The fact that Lyles, despite battling COVID-19 and facing significant disruption in his training schedule, managed to advance to the 100m semifinals is a testament to his extraordinary abilities and unwavering resolve. Lyles is now the world’s third-fastest 200m sprinter, trailing only Bolt and Yohan Blake. As the world championships draw closer, all eyes will be on Noah Lyles, whose journey has just begun.
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