Noah Lyles equals Tyson Gay’s American best. GETTY IMAGES

Olympic champion Noah Lyles claimed the 150m title at the Atlanta City Games last Saturday, clocking a 14.41 seconds. While Lyles failed to break Usain Bolt’s world record, he equalled Tyson Gay’s American best, set in 2010— tying him for the fastest American man in history. 

"I wanted the world record, but I'll settle for the American," Lyles said to reporters. 

Lyles has had an incredible year so far: he won the 60m 2024 USATF Indoor Championships and set a new world record in the process, bagged the 100m race at the Bermuda Grand Prix and a silver in the World Indoor Championships.



Now the Florida native says he is ready to run a 9.6 when asked about what this record means for his 100 and 200 metres.

"This means I’m going to run faster than any other year. I mean Tyson Gay's a 9.69 runner. In my head I’m like, 'Shoot, I’m ready to go 9.6.’ That’s what I’m thinking. I had a great start — first two steps, I was with everybody. By the fifth or sixth step, I was cleaning everybody. By the time we were at 50m, I was already like, ‘Alright, I’m putting this race behind me, let’s keep it going," Lyles said in an interview.





Lyles' teammate Grant Holloway clocked at 13.07 in the men's 110m hurdles, claiming the first place and the world lead for 2024. South Africa's Akani Simbine also set a world lead for this year, with a sub-10 time in the men's 100m (9.90).

Other winners in the American team include Aleia Hobbs in the women’s 100m (10.88), Tara Davis-Woodhall took the women's long jump with a 7.17m , and 2020 Olympic silver medallist Keni Harrison in the 100m hurdles, finishing strong to clock a 12.67 in her season opener.