USATF Indoor Championships: Noah Lyles or Christian Coleman for the 60m title? Exploring their strengths and weakness

Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles

USATF Indoor Championships: Noah Lyles or Christian Coleman for the 60m title? Exploring their strengths and weakness

Funmilayo Fameso 06:56 - 16.02.2024

Many pundits have made predictions on who will come out tops between Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles. But the truth is it cannot be easily ascertained, as both have their strengths and weakness, and it will only take a perfectly executed race by one of them to determine the winner.

The men's 60m at the 2024 USATF Indoor Championships will be the most anticipated event this weekend, set to feature two of the world's best sprinters: Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman

Both sprinters are known to be very competitive and always bring the heat whenever they race, so if there's one thing they'll be chasing after, it is the bragging rights of leaving Albuquerque, New Mexico - The US Indoor Champion.

Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman

While many pundits have made predictions on who will come out tops, the truth is it cannot be easily ascertained, with both having their strengths and weakness, which will only take a perfectly executed race by one of them that'll determine the winner.

Noah Lyles's strengths and weakness

Before the 2023 season, Lyles was never in the conversation of being a top contender in the short sprints (60m and 100m), having dominated the 200m event for years.

However, he has improved the first 30 meters of his race - his weakest point. His results over the past three years have reflected that from 6.55s in 2022 to 6.51s in 2023 and now 6.44s in 2024, which he ran at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on February 4. This time is the fastest in the world this year, making him a legitimate threat to win the US title. 

Noah Lyles clocked world leading time of 6.44s at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix // @WorldAthletics

His confidence is currently on a high with victories at major competitions, highlighted by winning the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m world titles in Budapest. Nonetheless, the world's fastest man will be wary of the threat posed by the greatest 60m runner of all time - World Record holder Coleman.

To win his first US 60m title, Lyles will hope he stays healthy, with last year in view, where he withdrew from the final after experiencing tightness in his hip flexor after the semifinals. 

If things go as planned, he will be focused on getting out of the blocks fast to ensure a chance in the race and rely on his top-end speed to finish the job.

Christian Coleman's strengths and weakness

Three US Indoor Championship titles are surely confidence boosters heading for a fourth one. Coleman has one of the best starts in history and has been near-unbeatable. Since the 2016 NCAA indoor championships, when he was a sophomore at Tennessee, he has lost only one 60m race: the 2022 World Indoor final in Belgrade.

His start is his biggest strength and just needs to hold on to the last 30m to cross the finish line first, which he has found a way to master as the World Record holder

Christian Coleman is one of the world's fastest sprinters in history

This season, the 2019 world 100m champion dropped an easy 6.51s performance at the Millrose Games last week, and one can only expect him to lower the time when he faces one of his best friends and biggest rivals.

Also, Coleman defeated Lyles in three of their four 100m matchups in 2023 (Bermuda, USA Championships, Prefontaine Classic Diamond League), though Lyles won the most important one at the world championships.

If there's anyone who understands and knows how to defeat Lyles, Coleman is top on the list. So he will be gunning to add another victory in their head-to-head battle as he aims to defend his house and retain his bragging rights. 

How to watch the US Indoor Championships

The 2024 USATF Indoor Championships will be live streamed on USATF.TV on February 16 and 17. NBC and Peacock will also broadcast the event in the US on Saturday and Sunday.

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