Noah Lyles lost his 100m world title to Oblique Seville, but he still has two more titles to defend. While one is the 200m, where it’s only him, the other would require help. Team USA is the defending champion in the 4x100m relay, and even though Coleman and Fred Kerley are no longer on the team, Lyles and Kenny Bednarek have the mantle on their shoulders to not lose this title. But this time around, as the US team craves a win in the discipline after the 2024 World Athletics Relays, things are going to be tough. The big challenge is Kenny vs Noah.
After Noah Lyles edged out Kenny Bednarek in the 200m final at the U.S. Championships (19.63 vs. 19.67), Bednarek shoved Lyles in the back post‐finish following a tense stare‐down. The good news for the USA this time is that Kenny and Noah seem to be getting along. After his win in his 100-meter heat in 9.95 seconds, Noah Lyles was giving interviews in the mixed zone when Bednarek passed by him. Lyles saw him coming, and as he got closer, Lyles said, “Good job, bro.” Bednarek was quick to reply with, “You too.” Kenny won his heat 4 in 10.01s. Then today, after Kung-Fu Kenny won his 200m heat in 19.98s and Lyles in 19.99s, the two were seen on the staircase sharing a dap and talking to each other. Can they repeat 2023 together? Well, they have a challenge.
In an interview with CBC Sports today, Citius Man founder Chris Chavez said, “I don’t think anyone is in the position where, you know, kind of jokingly at the world relays, Noah saying ‘who?’ when it comes to Canada. Canada definitely put themselves on the map over the last couple of years with the relays.” Canada’s best came in the Paris Olympics when they won the gold medal in 37.50s. In the men’s 4×100m relay final at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, they also claimed the bronze in 38.11s. And they are not the only threat to the American team in the 4x100m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Chavez pointed out, “There are some new threats that are outside of North America. South Africa put two guys in that 100 meter final, and so I look at them as potentially another metal contender in that in that 4×1.” Oblique Seville claimed the 100m World Champion crown in 9.77s while Kishane Thompson came seconds later, 9.82s. The Americans, Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, were third(9.89s) and fourth(9.92s). But in that race were also South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.95s- 5th) and Akani Simbine (10.04s). Things do feel troubling for the USA as you realize South Africa was the silver medalist in the Paris Olympics, as they clocked 37.57s while USA fumbled.
The USA team (Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King, Fred Kerley) finished the final in 7th place, but were disqualified for an illegal baton handoff. Cut to 2025, Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine won the men’s 4×100m in the 2025 World Athletics Relays, clocking 37.61 seconds, the fastest time of the year. Though Walaza is not going to be there, tough competition still awaits the US team. It is also important for the USA to win this medal, especially after what happened in Paris.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“It’s it’s important because like you know they’re so good at it individually and so it it doesn’t make sense that it can’t come together you know when we put four guys on a relay and so, from from a historical standpoint, I think that you know getting a medal is is a great starting point for to set the table for what could potentially come down the line in Los Angeles,” the Citius Mag founder explained. The USA has the Olympic gold medalist in the 100m, then there is Kenny Bednarek, the second fastest man of the season (10.79s at USATF Championships). These two alone can be a deadly combination. In the past, it has been the mistakes that have cost them the medal, but Lyles and Bednarek might just pull it off this time.
Noah Lyles can be the point of difference
After the Zurich Diamond League Final, Noah Lyles was asked if Team USA can win gold in the 4x100m relays at the World Championships. His answer? “Couldn’t tell you. I’ll just say this. Every time I’m on last leg…” Lyles did not add any further; he didn’t need to. Anybody who knows track knows that if he is running the anchor leg, the gold medal is a done deal. This has been the case in the majority of past World Championships.
In the 2019 World Championships, Team USA clocked 37.10 seconds, not only becoming the 4×100 m world champions but also breaking the U.S. record and recording the second-fastest time in history up to that point. This title was then lost in the 2022 World Champions as the US team finished second in 37.55s behind Canada in 37.48s. But then in Budapest, Christian Coleman was quick out of the blocks, leading to an exchange between Fred Kerley and Brandon Carnes.
When Lyles received the baton from Carnes, he made sure they won the gold in 37.38s. Noah also anchored Team USA in the 2024 World Athletics Relays, where they won the gold in 37.40 seconds, again a world-leading mark. Now, the last two times the USA ran 4x100m in any such big events, Lyles was not in the team. In the World Athletics relays earlier this year, Courtney Lindsey, Kenneth Bednarek, Kyree King, and Brandon Hickli only brought silver in 37.66. Lyles was expected to run in the U.S. men’s 4×100 m relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but he had to leave after the 200m finals due to his COVID-19 diagnosis.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Without Noah, the team had to use other sprinters and shuffle the runner order. The team kept Coleman at the start, but now Bednarek ran second, King third, and Kerley anchored. These changes threw off their usual rhythm, making it harder for them to click together in the final. In the finals baton exchange error occurred outside the exchange zone between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek.