The reigning Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, has made no secret of his ambitions to expand his dominance into the 400m. However, track and field coach Anderson Emerole has delivered a blunt assessment, pointing out a glaring gap in Lyles’ credentials.
Anderson Emerole took to social media to highlight the discrepancy.
“Despite having high-quality 100 & 200 marks, Noah’s 400 time falls well below others since he hasn’t run it since high school.”
The coach responded to speculation on whether Noah Lyles can match sprint legends in the 400m event.
The discussion took an even more intriguing turn when Emerole brought Usain Bolt into the conversation. Bolt, primarily focused on the 100m and 200m but occasionally tested his limits in the 400m. His personal best of 45.28 seconds, set in 2007, remains a testament to his extraordinary versatility, despite never seriously pursuing the event at major championships.
Comparatively, Lyles’ best 400m time stands at 47.04 seconds, a mark he set as a high school athlete. While his 100m (9.79) and 200m (19.31) times place him among the elite, the 400m presents a vastly different challenge—one that demands a unique blend of speed, endurance, and tactical pacing.
Emerole avoided firm predictions but hinted Lyles must improve greatly to challenge the world’s best.
“Won’t make predictions since it’s a season opener, but almost certain he’ll move up this combo sprinters list,” he remarked.
Lyles has speed, but becoming a top 400m runner takes more—experience and specialized training are essential.
Other elite sprinters, such as Fred Kerley, have successfully transitioned between sprint distances, but the 400m remains a formidable hurdle. Bolt himself never fully committed to the event, focusing instead on rewriting the record books in the shorter sprints.