Noah Lyles runs personal best in professional 400m debut at Tom Jones Memorial, testing endurance ahead of World Championships season.
American sprinter Noah Lyles faced a humbling return to the 400m track at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, April 19.
The Olympic 100m gold medalist, who was making his debut over the distance as a professional, clocked a personal best of 45.87 seconds but failed to make the podium, finishing 14th in a competitive field of 26 runners.
The event marked Lyles’ first outdoor race since his dazzling performances at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he claimed gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m.
Despite showing solid form with a strong finish, Lyles fell short against the deeper endurance and pacing of seasoned 400m runners.
The race was won by Christopher Robinson, who impressed with a 44.15-second finish.
“Today will be my first pro 400m! Pr or Bust!” Lyles tweeted ahead of the race, a message that captured both his excitement and bold ambition.
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It was a return to old territory for Lyles, who last competed in the 400m back in 2016 as a high school senior.
Back then, he recorded a time of 47.04 seconds. On Saturday, he shaved more than a second off that mark, a commendable feat given the near-decade since his last outing in the event.
Lyles turned professional shortly after that high school season, signing with Adidas alongside his younger brother, Josephus Lyles.
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Since then, he has built a reputation as one of the most charismatic and formidable sprinters in the world, particularly over 200m, where he is a three-time world champion.
In 2025, Lyles appears to be broadening his range and testing his endurance in what is shaping up to be a packed and ambitious season.
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His sights remain firmly set on the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where he is expected to defend his 200m crown and perhaps compete in other events.
Saturday’s race was part of the first heat, which featured talented runners such as Jonathan Jones, Kennedy Lightner, Jacory Patterson, Justin Robinson, and Alonzo Russell.
The American has already kickstarted his season with appearances in indoor meets, including the RADD Sports College Invitational and the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, competing in the 60m.
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