ALEXANDRIA, VA — Olympic champion Noah Lyles, the Alexandria City High School graduate who has become one of the world’s biggest track stars, added another historic achievement Tuesday, running the fastest 150 meters ever recorded at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
According to World Athletics, Lyles clocked 14.67 seconds, eclipsing the previous world best of 14.92 set earlier this year by Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile finished second in 14.78, while Australian teenager Gout Gout crossed in 14.96, meaning all three runners finished under the previous world best.
After the race, Lyles told reporters simply: “It was about time.”
Alexandria Has Claimed Noah Lyles as Its Own
Lyles was born in Gainesville, Florida, but moved to Alexandria with his mother and siblings following his parents’ divorce. He attended Alexandria City High School, then known as T.C. Williams High School, before turning professional in 2016 alongside his brother, Josephus.
World Athletics, Team USA and numerous media profiles list Alexandria, Virginia, as Lyles’ hometown, a designation he has proudly embraced throughout his career. And the feeling is mutual.
When Lyles returned to Alexandria after the Paris Olympics in September 2024, he was greeted by hundreds of fans during a celebration at Alexandria City High School. According to Alexandria City Public Schools, Lyles told the crowd, “Alexandria is a huge part of my life. This is where I started my journey to become the Noah Lyles I am today.”
The celebration included city leaders, students and members of the community who had followed his career from his earliest races as a Titan to Olympic gold. WUSA9 described the event as a “community celebration” at his former high school, while local media outlets documented the hero’s welcome he received throughout the city.
Another Chapter in an Extraordinary Career
Tuesday’s race was the latest milestone in a career already filled with them.
Lyles is the reigning Olympic 100-meter champion and a four-time world champion in the 200 meters. But according to World Athletics, the 150-meter race in Ostrava offered him something new: the chance to chase a rarely contested world best at a distance that combines the explosive speed of the 100 with the endurance of the 200.
He did more than chase it. He shattered it.
And as Alexandria residents have learned over the years, betting against Noah Lyles is rarely a good idea.
