US sprinter Noah Lyles just did what he does best: go absurdly fast. He clocked a blistering 14.67 seconds in the 150-meter race at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, setting a new world best.
Because apparently, 14.72 seconds — the previous record set by Jamaica's Kishane Thompson just last April — was simply not quick enough. Lyles, at 28, decided it needed a fresh rewrite.
The Need for Speed
In Ostrava, Lyles didn't just break a record; he left South Africa's Sinesipho Dambile (14.78 seconds) and Australian teenager Gout Gout (14.96 seconds) in his dust. "Was there ever any doubt? We came for a show," Lyles quipped afterward. Which, if you've seen him run, is a fair point.
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Start Your News DetoxIt's been a pretty good month for Lyles, who also snagged the 100m at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Rome with a 9.88-second dash — his fastest since taking home gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. When he's not busy setting world bests, he's known for his boundless energy, a deep love for anime, and for being named one of Time100's most influential people this year. Because, why not?
Meanwhile, the women's 800m saw Swiss runner Audrey Werro snatching a victory from Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol. Broeders-Bol, 26, usually dominates the 400m hurdles (with two world gold medals to prove it) and was making her outdoor debut in the 800m. She still managed an impressive second place with 1 minute 57.13 seconds. "It was so cool, I love racing in Ostrava. It was tough, but I enjoyed it," she said, which is exactly the attitude you want when trying a new event.
Werro, 22, finished in 1 minute 54.45 seconds, just a hair off her personal best. She powered past Broeders-Bol in the final 200 meters, proving that sometimes, the new kid on the block has a surprise up her sleeve. Her time is the eighth best ever, and the race was even watched by Jarmila Kratochvilova, who set the world record back in 1983. Imagine setting a record so good, it still stands over 40 years later.
In the men's 100m, 20-year-old Bayanda Walaza of South Africa matched his personal best of 9.94 seconds for the win, with Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon close behind at 9.99 seconds. US favorites Ronnie Baker and Jordan Anthony landed a respectable fourth and fifth. Just another day at the track, where records fall and new stars rise, sometimes in the same breath.
