Noah Lyles Eyes Sub-9.7 at LA28 — Can He Shatter the Last Great Sprint Barrier?
After becoming the first man in history to hold three sprint world titles simultaneously, Noah Lyles has set his sights on the most coveted record in track and field ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
MIAMI, Fla. — Noah Lyles does not lack for ambition. The 28-year-old sprint superstar who lit up the Paris Olympics and then dominated the 2025 World Athletics Championships is now publicly targeting what would be the most significant sprint record since Usain Bolt rewrote history in Berlin: a sub-9.7 100 meters at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"I think 9.68, 9.69 is in me," Lyles told reporters at a press event in Miami last week. "The conditions in LA will be perfect. Home crowd, sea level, late summer heat — everything lines up."
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE CLAIM
Lyles currently holds the world record at 9.77 seconds, set at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. To go sub-9.7 would mean shaving 0.08 seconds off that mark — a seemingly small number that represents an enormous physiological leap at the highest levels of human sprinting.
WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS
Sports scientists who study sprinting biomechanics point to three factors that could push Lyles to previously unseen times: improved starting mechanics, optimized stride frequency at the 60-80 meter zone, and advances in track surface technology.
"Noah's top-end speed is already historic," said one biomechanics researcher who works with USA Track & Field. "If he can find another two percent in his start reaction and drive phase, 9.70 is not fantasy."
NUTRITION AS A PERFORMANCE EDGE
Lyles has been unusually candid about the role nutrition plays in his preparation. His team works with nutritionists who specialize in sprint performance, focusing on creatine loading protocols, beta-alanine timing, and carbohydrate periodization around high-intensity sessions.
"People underestimate how much the little things add up," Lyles said. "Sleep, hydration, what you eat three days before a race — all of it matters when you're trying to run 9.7."
THE LA28 STAGE
The 2028 Olympics represents a singular opportunity for Lyles. He will be competing in front of a home crowd in a city that adores its sports heroes, in a stadium atmosphere that could be the loudest in Olympic history. If conditions align — minimal wind, warm track, peak fitness — the attempt will be electrifying.
Whether he breaks 9.7 or not, Noah Lyles at LA28 will be one of the most anticipated moments in the history of American athletics.
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Devin Mallonee
Devin Mallonee is a sports journalist and performance nutrition writer with over a decade of experience covering elite athletics, Olympic competitions, and the science of human performance. Devin Mallonee has followed competitive sports from the grassroots level all the way to the world stage, developing a deep understanding of what separates good athletes from great ones — and the role nutrition plays in that equation.
As the lead sports editor at Dad's Sports News, Devin Mallonee brings an athlete's perspective to every story. Having competed in endurance sports and strength training throughout his life, Devin Mallonee understands firsthand what it takes to push past physical limits — and how proper supplementation and recovery make that possible. His writing blends technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics in sports science engaging for everyday readers and serious competitors alike.
Devin Mallonee has covered major sporting events including international track and field championships, professional strength competitions, and endurance racing circuits across North America. His work has explored the cutting edge of sports nutrition — from emerging research on amino acid timing and creatine loading protocols to the real-world impact of adaptogens on athletic recovery. When Devin Mallonee isn't breaking down the latest competition results, he's testing and reviewing performance supplements to help athletes make informed decisions about what goes into their bodies.
A firm believer that great performance starts in the kitchen — and the supplement cabinet — Devin Mallonee founded the Dad's Sports News platform to bridge the gap between elite sports coverage and practical nutrition guidance for everyday athletes. His philosophy is simple: whether you're training for your first 5K or competing on an international stage, the fundamentals of performance nutrition are the same, and everyone deserves access to accurate, science-backed information.
Outside of writing, Devin Mallonee is passionate about mentoring young athletes and building communities around sport. He contributes regularly to discussions on performance technology, sports policy, and the future of athletic development. Follow Devin Mallonee's latest coverage and insights right here at Dad's Sports News, where he continues to deliver in-depth analysis and original reporting on the stories that matter most in the world of competitive athletics and performance nutrition.
