Champion sprinter, Noah Lyles decided to call it a season after his Zurich Diamond League victory. But later on, he decided to appear in the conclusive stage of the ongoing Diamond League 2023, aka Prefontaine Classic 2023. However, he had to face a saddening defeat despite clocking his second-fastest time of the current season. It was his American counterpart, Christian Coleman, who got the better of him on day 1 of the finals.

The race ended in one of the closest finishes of this season, and the timekeepers had to do some work to decide the winner. Coleman clocked the joint-fastest finish of the season after he crossed the line in 9.83 seconds. However, Coleman was not the one who gave Lyles a hard time on the track; it was another runner who almost cost Lyles his second place.

A tough day at work for Noah Lyles

The current world champion almost got humbled by Kenyan sprinting prodigy Ferdinand Omanyala. He clocked the same time as Lyles and placed third in this race filled with superstars. The photo finish decided the winner, and an image of the same has been shared by a track and field enthusiast on Twitter (now X).

In the image, Coleman is seen finishing the line as his left leg is clearly seen outside of the finish line, while Lyles’ left foot is seen crossing the finish line, and Omanyala is seen crossing the deciding line in the same fashion as Lyles. This 100-meter race witnessed one of the closest finishes, with the top four sprinters all completing it in under 10 seconds. As soon as the gun was fired, it was Coleman who looked absolutely in great vigor.

Following him closely was Omanyala, while Lyles tried his best to get past Coleman. The race concluded in a photo finish, ultimately determining that Lyles wouldn’t emerge as the victor once more. Now that the current season has wrapped up for the current world champion, his aims are still high, as per an interview he gave after the meet.

Noah Lyles is not giving up anytime soon

In a post-race interview, Noah Lyles said that he was happy with his performance in the finals and also appreciated Coleman’s effort. On being asked for his goals for the next year, Lyles stated that he is surely going to go for the triple championship victory next year. He also added that his body is in great shape, and he is also thrilled that he clocked his second-best time of the season.

Read More: US Track Star Noah Lyles Surpasses World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt by 4 Records

Noah Lyles may not have secured a victory in the dramatic Prefontaine Classic 2023, but his spirit remains undaunted. Despite a close finish and defeat by Christian Coleman, Lyles is setting his sights on future championships, determined to continue his impressive track and field journey. He will also be an athlete to watch out for in the upcoming Olympics.

Watch this story: Noah Lyles Eyeing on Shattering Another Record of Usain Bolt After Breaking the Sprinting Legend’s Record in Seven Years