Noah Lyles Returns to Track and Field After Disappointing Loss
Noah Lyles is set to return to track and field after a disappointing loss, with his first race scheduled for May 17, 2026, at the Tokyo meet.
Noah Lyles was stunned by Trinidadian Jereem Richards in the 300m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in January.
The defeat set off questions about his form ahead of a stacked Olympic year, but Lyles is ready to turn the page.
Noah Lyles will race in the men's 100m at the Tokyo meet, his first-ever appearance at this meet, with other confirmed competitors including Kiryu Yoshihide and Mori Yuhi.
Lyles is the favorite with a personal best of 9.79 seconds, faster than anyone in the field, and could even challenge the Seiko Golden Grand Prix 100m record of 9.88 seconds.
Noah Lyles skipped the indoor worlds to balance competition with personal life, as the meet was too close to his wedding on April 4, 2026.
He will be racing in Tokyo just days after his wedding, which is no small challenge for a sprinter at the elite level.
Lyles has already promised fans a good, memorable season, saying "I'll be running. You're going to get your heavy dose of Noah Lyles. I promise you that."
Noah Lyles' 2026 season so far hasn't been bad, but it hasn't looked like his usual dominant self either, with flashes of form and moments where he's looked just a step behind.
He opened his season at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on January 24, finishing just behind Jereem Richards in the 300m with a time of 32.15.
Lyles competed at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, where he ran the 200m and won in 20.56, a solid performance but not sharp enough to signal peak form yet.
At the USATF Indoor Championships, Noah Lyles finished third in the 60m final, running 6.51 seconds, behind Jordan Anthony and Trayvon Bromell.
Lyles is already confirmed to race the 100m at the Rome Golden Gala on June 4, one of the key meets of the outdoor season.
Noah Lyles is focused on the outdoor season, saying "There might be, of course, after indoor, it's going to be a lot slower. But once the Diamond League starts picking up, I'll be there.