Noah Lyles fails to match Kishane Thompson as he makes long-awaited track return

Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson after the 100m finals at the Paris Olympics.

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Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson after the 100m finals at the Paris Olympics.

Noah Lyles fails to match Kishane Thompson as he makes long-awaited track return

Joel Omotto 08:35 - 26.01.2025

Noah Lyles may have recorded a winning start to the season he could not match what his track rival Kishane Thompson managed hours earlier.

Olympics 100m champion Noah Lyles started his season with a win but he will be disappointed that his time was slower than that recorded by his track nemesis Kishane Thompson.

Lyles clocked 6.62 seconds in the 60m dash at the RADD Invitational, an indoor university meeting in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, in what was his first race since winning a bronze medal in 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He beat his training partner, Udodi Onwuzurike who clocked 6.70s while Caleb Dean was fourth in 6.75s as Jaylen Slade finished fifth in 6.87s.

Lyles’ time was, however, slower than that recorded by his track rival Kishane Thompson, the Jamaican having clocked 6.56 in the 60m dash in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday.

It shows how far both sprinters are from hitting their best form but their performances will get people talking given their growing rivalry.

Lyles’ time fell below his personal best of 6.43 seconds recorded in Albuquerque in February 2024 but will give him motivation as he builds up towards the World Indoor Championshi[s set to take place in Nanjing, China in March.

The six-time world champion won silver at last year’s World Indoor Championships held in Glasgow, Scotland after clocking 6.44 to finish behind compatriot Christian Coleman.

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