Statement of intent

World 200 metres champion Noah Lyles says he is intent on sending a signal to his challengers on his road to back-to-back world titles as he prepares to take the track for the Racers Grand Prix tomorrow at the National Stadium.

Lyles arrived on the island yesterday, one of the major stars slated to compete at the meet, which is returning after a three-year hiatus.

While the majority of his time this season has been spent running the 100m, Lyles is competing in the 200m tomorrow, a race that he says he is using as the launch pad of his intentions this season.

“This one is pretty important because this is really my announcement to the 200m that we are keeping it serious,” Lyles told The Gleaner. “I have spent a lot of time with the 100m, making sure I feel comfortable in it. But at the same time, I have got to give the 200m the same amount of treatment and no better place to run it than in Jamaica.”

It has been two months since Lyles competed in the 200m, back in April at the Tom Jones Memorial meet where he opened his individual outdoor season by clocking 20.16 seconds. James Dadzie of Ghana currently has the fastest time in the world this year, clocking 19.79 on April 29.

The Racers Grand Prix has been a meet that Lyles has been looking forward to, not only because of the potential for a fast time but competing on the home soil of multiple World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt, who has the 200m world record that Lyles has not been shy about wanting to break.

“Fast times have been run here so why not come to a place where I know that the crowd will be good and the track will be fast? These two things that I enjoy to make my races go well,” he said.

Lyles is admittedly unsure about the reception that he will get in Jamaica but he says that he will be prepared to perform.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com