Noah Lyles says he can break 400m WR

If he were to switch to being a 200/400 guy while he still isn't too old, like say make the Switch for next Olympics, he would definitely have a shot at the 400m WR.

His starts aren't super great, but his top speed is phenomenal. He is much better at the 200 than the 100, so it stands to reason if he starting gearing towards 200/400 training rather than 100/200 training he could at least run sub-44. He's got his 100m Gold medal now, and he ain't ever coming close to Bolt's 9.58, so if he's being serious it wouldn't surprise me to see him switch from 100/200 to 200/400 over the course of this olympic cycle so he can go after those two golds and those two WRs.

Maybe he sticks to 100/200 for the next year or two, to see if he can get his 100 time down to Gay/Blake/Powell level times to put himself at that secondary all-time level with those runners after Bolt, and then switch to 200/400 so he can be ready for 400 in LA.

Ummm how Tobogo with 43.03 split in his 8th race. Lyles was sick and if you think that, you’re a fool.

Great post.

Lyles is the fastest active 200m runner, by far.

Slower guys have gone 43-point, and even 43-low.

Lyles has amazing projection as he goes up in distance; his 200 is much better than his 100. (Near Bolt and above everyone else in the 200, not even close to that level in the 100.)

Why on earth would he hope for less if he seriously pursued the 400?

Here's a take:

For 2028, Lyles has a better chance at the 200-400 double than he does at the 100-200 double.

I think this holds up to scrutiny.

As well, if he trains for the 200-400 he will be a LOCK for the 4x400 and likely to be put on the 4x100 with his well-known 100 speed (which won't go away and which he can demonstrate during in-season 100s)

If he wants three golds in one games, the 4x400 is MUCH more of a lock than the 4x100. And if he wants four, he can do both relays.

What is he smoking

many years ago, when we had Noah, Josephus, Ryan Clark, Grant Holloway and others of that ilk on the NSAF team in Cuba, I told Noah that he should stick to the 400...0bviously I was wrong, but I believe he could run 43 lo right now! By the way, they were our 4x100m relay...with 15 min of baton practice, they handled the baton perfectly and won easily in 40 flat...mind you, none were seniors.

As he goes up in distance lmao, you're talking as if he moved up from 100 to the 200 and found success there, which isn't the case. You can't just say, oh, this guys a 19.31 guy clearly he can run under 43 seconds? Nobody would be saying any of this if Noah didn't say it first. Can Yohan Blake have run under 43 seconds? He was a 9.69 and 19.26 guy, surely he could just, ya know, keep running at that pace and break 43? There's a reason why we don't see that, and that's because its a different event. Noah also ran a 45.68 indoor split this year in his supposedly world record 200 form season. Granted, he obviously doesn't train the 400, but that's a college time. High school kids are now running 45 high indoor splits. That's not special. But all of a sudden, this guy can break 43.

Nothing weak about the 400 WR. This is evidenced by the fact that this record has moved only .36 seconds over 24 years by 3 runners. The 400 is a damned hard race and many of those who’ve posted great times ultimately decided to move to shorter distances. Just as Lyles admitted that he underestimated his competitors in the 200, he’s underestimated the meanness of the 400.

props to Sharpe for actually making it look and sound like he follows sprinting! breath of fresh air. gained my respect

So do it

And then there's Tebogo as well. Those 2 against the 400 specialists, would be great to see.

If he and Fred move up to the 400 in the next cycle (as at least Fred should considering his age and backgorund), I hope Fred beats Lyles so bad he has another coughing fit.

Has this dude stopped moving his mouth since the Olympics ended? Shut up already

Maybe if he f**ks the track before he races……

oh wait he already does

Noah Lyles, like most of the U.S. track and field squads over the years, could transfer to the Special Olympics with no change in behavior or personal standards and with no one involvd complaining he doesn't qualify. He should just stay in that wheelchair for the rest of his life and add a drool cup sometime in mid-2027 or so.