Noah Lyles to Defend 200m Title at Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships

Noah Lyles, the Paris Olympic 100m gold medalist and eight-time world champion, will headline NBC Sports' live coverage of the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships from Icahn Stadium in New York City.

What's at Stake for Noah Lyles?

Lyles is expected to double in the 100m and 200m, where he will defend his U.S. title in the latter event. In the 100m, he will face two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, who aims to defend his U.S. 100m title after winning last year's national championship in 9.79, a mark that tied him with Lyles and 2000 Sydney Olympic 100m gold medalist Maurice Greene as the sixth-fastest Americans in history.

A Strong Field Awaits

The 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships will feature a strong field, including Paris Olympic 4x100m gold medalist Sha'Carri Richardson, who is expected to line up in the 100m, and her teammate Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who will contest the 200m. Jefferson-Wooden is coming off a breakout 2025 campaign that saw her win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the World Championships.

Para Athletes to Watch

An elite lineup of Para athletes are set to compete, including Paris Paralympic 400m T62 gold medalist Hunter Woodhall, two-time Paris Paralympic sprint gold medalist Jaydin Blackwell, and five-time Paralympic sprint medalist Brittni Mason.

Live Coverage Details

NBC Sports will present a record 17 hours of live coverage-the most ever for the USATF Outdoor Championships in a non-Olympic year as well as the most hours ever for a Para U.S. National Championship meet. Live coverage on NBC and Peacock will be presented on Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. ET, and Sunday, July 26, at 4 p.m. ET. Live coverage begins with Para events this Thursday, July 23, at 12 p.m. ET.

What Comes Next?

The 2026 championship also serves as the 150th anniversary of the first-ever U.S. Outdoor Championships, which was held in The Bronx in 1876. The event will be held at Icahn Stadium in New York City, marking the first time since 1991 that the city will host the event.

17-year-old 800m phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus is also expected to compete in his signature event this week, where he aims to earn his first U.S. outdoor title. Lutkenhaus is coming off a historic 2025 season that saw him become the youngest American to ever compete at the World Championships, as well as a 2026 indoor season that saw him win the 800m at the World Indoor Championships, becoming the youngest man to ever win a world championship at the senior level.

Recently, he defeated reigning Olympic gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyoni at the Oslo Diamond League meet in June, running 1:42.08 for the fastest 800m time by a 17-year-old in world history.