Fresh off an electrifying showing at the 2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, American sprint sensation Noah Lyles turned heads with a bold, WWE-style entrance. After capping last season with a trio of medals at the World Athletics Championships in Japan, Lyles kicked off his new campaign at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, making his return to the 300m for the first time since 2017.
This shift signals a bold new chapter for Lyles, best known for his explosive speed in the 100m and 200m. Tackling the 300m, he is pushing his limits and sharpening his edge.
Noah Lyles on His Entrance at the Grand Prix
At the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Lyles recorded a time of 32.15 seconds to finish in 2nd place in the men’s 300m event, with Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago beating him to 1st place with a time of 32.14 seconds. It was Vernon Norwood who finished in 3rd place with a time of 32.38 seconds.
After the race, Lyles spoke about how he entered the race from the stands, revealing what inspired him to do so:
“I was watching WWE Monday Night Raw, and Jey Uso always comes from the stands to the ring. And I said that I want that. I want to do that. The only problem was the announcer didn’t know how to call a name, and the music wasn’t loud enough. So we’re going to change those next year,” he stated.
Lyles brought his trademark intensity to the 300m, matching the high standards he sets in the 100m and 200m. He kicked off his season in Florida with a commanding 32.60-second victory, notching his first win of the year.
Lyles Reveals What His Next Race Will Be
While Lyles is celebrated for his dominance in the 100m and 200m, he continues to impress in the 300m and 60m as well. At last year’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, he sprinted to a 6.52-second win in the 60m, and he is eager to return to the event this season.
In the same interview after the New Balance Grand Prix, he said:
“I will be at the US National Championships. In the 60m. In the 60. There’s a lot of people thinking that just because you were a big dog, indoor is not important. Indoor is the best place to get the most energy contained in one spot for track and field.”
The 2026 USATF Indoor Championships (often called the US National Indoor Championships) are scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 1 at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, New York.
