Noah Lyles, the reigning Olympic 100m champion from Paris 2024, has laid down a significant marker for the 2026 athletics season, clocking the fastest legal 100-metre time of the year at the USATF National Championships, according to Sportbible. Lyles powered to victory in 9.79 seconds, a time that not only secured gold but also matched his personal best.

The dominant performance saw Lyles finish a commanding 0.08 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Ronnie Baker, who crossed the line in 9.88 seconds. Kenneth Bednarek also recorded a 9.88, tying for fifth-fastest globally this year. Lyles’ initial clocking of 9.78 seconds was rounded up to 9.79, underscoring the razor-thin margins at the elite level.

Speaking to reporters after his triumph, Lyles exuded confidence. “I think I made the, I’m still the world’s fastest man statement. And I think that I was playing around. So I think everybody better tighten up,” he declared, sending a clear message to his rivals.

A new benchmark for 2026

According to Sportbible, Lyles’ 9.79s run surpasses the previous fastest legal time of 2026, a 9.82 seconds set by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in June. While Lamont Marcell Jacobs, a former Olympic champion, recorded an eye-catching 9.67 at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open earlier this month, that performance was deemed wind-aided, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0m/s. Usain Bolt’s legendary world record of 9.58 seconds, set in 2009, remains the benchmark.

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The current top legal 100m times for 2026 now stand as:

• Noah Lyles (USA) – 9.79 (+0.8)

• Oblique Seville (Jamaica) – 9.82 (+0.6)

• Kayinsola Ajayi (Nigeria) – 9.84 (+0.7)

• Ronal Longa (Colombia) – 9.85 (+1.5)

• Ronnie Baker (USA) – 9.88 (+0.8)

• Kenneth Bednarek (USA) – 9.88 (+0.8)

Nigerian sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi, 21, and Colombia’s Ronal Longa, 22, have also made their mark this season with times of 9.84 and 9.85 seconds respectively. Five athletes are currently tied for seventh place with a 9.89, including South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza and Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi.

Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028

Despite his dominant showing, Lyles believes there is still room for improvement, particularly in his start. As reported by Sportbible, he revealed that he had anticipated a fast time, telling reporters, “Last Thursday, we did a practice run and I ran a hand time [stopwatch] of a 9.6. So yeah, I knew that 9.7 was coming soon.”

As the athletics world looks towards future competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Lyles’ performance at the USATF National Championships serves as a powerful reminder of his speed and ambition, setting the stage for anticipated clashes with his global rivals.

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