Noah Lyles produced a brilliant performance to win the men’s 100 metres at the US Athletics Championships, clocking a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds at Icahn Stadium in New York City.
The 29-year-old American equalled his personal best, the same time he ran to win Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games. His performance also improved on the previous fastest time of 2026, which was the 9.82 seconds set by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in June.
Lyles finished ahead of Ronnie Baker and Kenny Bednarek, who both crossed the line in 9.88 seconds, while former world champion Christian Coleman was fourth in 9.93.
After the race, Lyles said his performance sent a clear message despite there being no Olympic Games or World Championships this year.
“I think I made that ‘I’m still the world’s fastest man’ statement,” he said.
“Just because it is an off year doesn’t mean that I plan to run slow. This is me being me and being me is dominant, being consistent.”
In the women’s 100 metres, Sha’Carri Richardson claimed victory with a time of 10.77 seconds, equalling her season’s best.
The 26-year-old, who won the world title in 2023, finished ahead of Kayla White, who ran 10.90, while Tamari Davis was third in 11.00.
Richardson said she was pleased to be back performing at her best after facing challenges away from the track.
“It just feels phenomenal to be back in a better place, just healthy mentally, physically and emotionally,” she said.
“Everything me and coach have been working on, it’s starting to show consistently.”
The performances of Lyles and Richardson underline their excellent form as both sprinters continue to lead American athletics heading into the remainder of the 2026 season.
