Lyles ahead of schedule, says coach
Published:Sunday | June 11, 2023 | 1:24 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
NOAH LYLES closed last week’s Racers Grand Prix with a meet record of 19.67 seconds. The performance confirmed an assessment by his coach, Lance Baumann, that the two-time World Champion was ahead of schedule in 2023.
Baumann, whose previous champions include Veronica Campbell-Brown, Tyson Gay and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, said, “He’s ahead of last year at this point, so we’re excited about things but at the same time, trying to keep everything in check and make sure we hit all the marks going through the next two months that we need to to be ready for World Championships and beyond.”
The Racers rush by Lyles was his fastest ever 200 metre season opener. Last year, which peaked with an American record of 19.31 seconds at the World Championships, he started with a time of 19.86. The previous benchmark came in 2019, the year of his first World title, when he whizzed 19.72 seconds in Rome.
According to Baumann, Lyles is primed for big things.
“He’s got some high expectations of himself, which I think’s good for any athlete. He’s training hard and paying attention and doing all the little things he needs to do at this point and, you know, I’m excited about where it’s going to go.”
Asked to compare Lyles’ mindset to the likes of Campbell-Brown, Gay and Miller-Uibo, Baumann commented, “He’s right up there with the best of them. You know, when you’re really special like the athletes you just named, they find the inner drive to keep pushing them to new heights and he definitely has that.”
Lyles has the defending champion’s wild card entry to the 200 for this year’s World Championships. Therefore, he will contest the shorter sprint at the United States Championships next month.
“He’s currently planning on running the 100 at USAs, yes. We’ve been doing some work on it. We still have some things that we’re trying to fine-tune a bit, but it’s coming around and looking forward to giving the 100 a shot there,” the coach confirmed.
LYLES’ PORTFOLIO
Lyles’ 100-metre portfolio includes the 2016 World Under-20 gold and the 2018 national senior title. However, he finished eighth in the 2021 Olympic Trials 100-metre final.
His personal best of 9.86 was established four years ago.
He narrowly lost to domestic rival Christian Coleman in the 100 in a recent duel in Bermuda and while World Champion Fred Kerley will probably skip the 100 at the US Championships, Baumann thinks a fast time will be needed to gain a spot on the 100-metre team.
“It’s a non-contact sport, so the only thing you can worry about is what’s going on in your lane, but I figure you’d better be in shape to run 9.7- something to make the team. You go in there with that mindset, and you’ll be fine,” the coach reasoned.
Lyles won the 100 at the June 9 Paris Diamond League meeting in 9.97 seconds.