Of all the competitions in track and field, the World Indoor Championships tends to be one of the least popular championship meets in the sport. That’s typically because most athletes are still in their base training mode. As a result, the fields in most events aren’t nearly as deep as they will be come Olympic Trials time. The one caveat is that athletes that do compete indoors, do so with a purpose. To sharpen elements of their events. Trying new techniques. Rehabbing injuries. Running odd distances to strengthen their normal events. This year was no different, though those athletes that did show up, definitely brought their “A” game to the track.
Among the stars of the sport that competed in Glasgow, we got some fantastic performances. Grant Holloway ran 7.29 in the 60m hurdles. A mark that would’ve tied his own WR if he hadn’t already broken it at the US Championships. Femke Bol ran 49.17 to lower her own WR in the 400m. And Devynne Charlton lowered her own WR in the 60m hurdles with her 7.65. There were several other outstanding marks including a much anticipated 60m clash between WR holder Christian Coleman and double World champion Noah Lyles. A race won by Coleman 6.41 to 6.44. With Christian beginning to look like the sprinter that won gold in the 100m in 2019. While Noah came second, he showed that his start and early acceleration are much improved. Giving him a reason to look upon the indoor season as a success. Despite being second in the 60m however, Noah was the talk of the internet by meets end. Not because of his showdown with Coleman, but because of his placement on the 4×4!
Yes, Noah ran a leg on the 4×4. Splitting 45.68 on what turned out to be the silver medal runner up to Belgium 3:02.54 to 3:02.60. Noah running on the relay has garnered much conversation on the internet. As many people questioned his being placed on the relay. Including Fred Kerley who tweeted that he’s been asking to be on the 4×4 for the past three years. Given his 43.64 PB in the event, as well as usually running a 400 or two during the early part of the season, I understand his wanting to do so. Apparently Kenny Bednarek is another who may have asked to be on the 4×4. So, why Noah, and why now? Here’s my take.
I’ll start by going back to the end of last year. After winning the sprint triple – 100m, 200m, and 4×1 – Noah stated that he’d like to run on the 4×4 and attempt to win FOUR gold medals! While Noah has focused on the 200m for his entire career, he’s improved portions of his race and become elite in the 100m as well. Going back to high school, Noah was a 45 sec split on his high school’s 4×4. Which ironically enough has had fans wondering out loud what he might be able to run now. So it’s not an idea that just appeared out of nowhere.
So, why is he interested now? Well, Noah wants to be known as a “great” sprinter. Which is why he worked on improving his 100m race. Sprinters with the term great associated with them have traditionally won both sprints – or in the case of Michael Johnson and Marie Josee Parec, both long sprints. There’s another measure of greatness in the sport however. That being the quadruple, as in four gold medals. First done by Jesse Owens in 1936 – 100m, 200m, LJ, and 4×1. Duplicated by Carl Lewis in 1984, winning the same four events. In 2000 Marion Jones attempted a quintuple, 100m, 200m, 4×1, 4×4, and LJ. Winning the 100m, 200m, and 4×4. Getting bronze in the 4×1 and LJ. So there is a history of outstanding athletes attempting to win multiple events as a way to cement their place in history. With the Olympics as the stage because it’s the biggest sporting event on the planet. Given that this is an Olympic year, it stands to reason that now would be the time to make the attempt.
Why Noah? That’s the question on everyone’s tongue. My answer is because he is currently one of the most visible faces in the sport! It’s why Carl made the attempt. He was in many ways the face of the sport at that time. Why did the IOC change the Olympic schedule to accommodate Michael Johnson’s attempt at a 200m /400m double. The same reason, highest visibility athlete at the time. USATF placing Marion Jones on the 4×4? Again a high visibility athlete attempting to do something special. This is the space that Noah occupies at present. The high visibility athlete looking to differentiate himself from the pack.
Of course he still has much to get done. First he has to make the team in both sprints. Not so easy to do. There are no byes for the Olympics. So he has to go to Eugene and make both the 100m and 200m squads. Then he must win both sprints in Paris. Again not easy to do. If he gets both of those gold medals, he and three others have to get gold in the 4×1! A 50/50 proposition in the past couple of decades for the US. Then, and only then are we looking at the possibility of a fourth gold medal in the 4×4. A difficult road to travel.
That’s what makes it a great story line for the Trials and the Games. Something that people will follow. Whether they are cheering for the athlete’s success, or his failure. Which is why the leaders of the sport and the media like it when athletes are brazen enough to try. For Noah it’s a chance to do something that’s not been done before, and be spoken of in the same breath as the sport’s greats – Owens, Lewis, Johnson, Bolt. This is why we saw Noah on the 4×4. Of course there will be other athletes standing between Noah and greatness. Other athletes that want greatness of their own. Sprinters like Fred Kerley, who’s won a World championship in the 100m himself, and is capable of the same quadruple! Who will not just lay down and watch Noah on his road to fame. Or perhaps a Kenny Bednarek who’s also adept at all three sprints. Or say Erriyon Knighton who wants to win the 200m himself. Or Christian Coleman, looking for glory in the 100m, who just defeated Noah in the 60m.
That’s without mentioning the quartermilers that make Team USA in the open 400m! The three that make the open event will have the same claim to a relay spot, that the members of the 100m squad will have for the 4×1. That means Noah will have to prove he’s as good as, or better than, long sprinters like Bryce Deadmond, Quincy Hall, Champion Allison, Michael Cherry, Vernon Norwood, Ryan Willie, Rai Benjamin, or Michael Norman among others. In my opinion, that will require having split something between 43.8 and 44.5 at some point during the season. As the goal of the relay coaches is to put the best four athletes available to provide a win. That’s a squad of six athletes, which includes alternates. So, not making the open event, Noah will have to prove he’s one of the remaining three team members for the relay pool.
My point is that the road to four medals is extremely difficult.There will be a gauntlet of sprinters standing in Noah’s way. He’s going to have to be in the shape of his life to achieve this feat. Which makes success that much sweeter when an athlete pulls something like this off!
So, get ready for an Olympic season that just got kicked up a few notches! Noah’s 45.68 split in Glasgow was just the beginning. The world’s best sprinters just entered another phase of competition – The Battle for Greatness. As if the sprint wars in the US were not intense enough. Those seeking their own greatness, and those looking to derail them. Either way, it will be a tremendous treat for the fans, and great for the sport. And right on cue, it’s time to go outside. This is going to be a lot of fun.
Tags: Allison, Bednarek, Jones, Kerley, Lewis, Lyles, Norman, Owens, Willie