Starting next Wednesday, the World Youth Olympic Games for track & field gets underway in Nanjing, China. A total of 15 US high school athletes will be competing include one gifted young sprinter who is getting his second straight summer pack of Team USA gear in T.C. Williams High School rising junior Noah Lyles. A Virginia state champion and New Balance Outdoor Nationals runner-up in the 200 meter dash, Lyles and his brother Josephus Lyles have spent their summer walking around their Alexandria, Virginia home showing off their Team USA attire.
His slightly younger brother Josephus, who is also in the same grade as Noah (class of 2016), won the New Balance Outdoor Nationals 400 meter dash title this past June and ran opening leg on the US gold medal 4x400 meter relay in the finals at the World Junior Championships. The Lyles brothers now own two gold medals being members of World champion relays with Noah last summer picking up the first gold medal as a leg for the United States on the IAAF World Youth champion sprint medley relay in Ukraine. After last summer making it through the semi-finals at the World Youth Championships in the 200 meter dash, Lyles has great confidence that he will not only make the 200 meter finals at the World Youth Olympic Games next week, but win as one of the fastest entrants with a 20.82 personal best.
After Trentavis Friday stormed through the best in the World in the 200 meter dash finals at the World Junior Championships several weeks ago, could Noah Lyles be the next US high school superstar sprinter to strike gold for the red, white, and blue? Lyles is looking to achieve just that in China and a bigger goal down the road in his next two years of high school flirt with the sub 20 second time in the 200 that Friday almost ran at both US Juniors and World Juniors this past summer.
Noah certainly is on good pace to do just that making two straight World championship teams for the United States, while the Lyles brothers combined will be a force on the national and World stage for years to come. It certainly has been a red, white, and blue summer for the Lyles household.
Interview with Noah Lyles prior to his travels to China can be found below.
MileSplit US interview with Noah Lyles
MileSplit US: How has your training been for the upcoming trip to China for the World Youth Olympic Games? Has it been difficult to stay in shape and train so far removed from your high school season in Virginia?
Noah Lyles: My training has been going well. I had to get my endurance up so I wouldn't burn out before the trip. It hasn't been hard to train but it has been different. I haven't realy had a track meet to test my skills, so I'm just going to have to trust my training.
MileSplit US: How did you even know or learn about the meet opportunity to compete in the World Youth Games? Not many top high schoolers were aware and went to the US trials in Florida that you competed in to earn your spot back in April.
Lyles: I actually learned as soon as I got back from the World Youth Championships last year. My brother Josephus was competing at the USATF Junior Olympics and we met the USATF Youth Director. He told me that there would be another World Youth team in 2014. As soon as Josephus and I heard that, we decided that we would go. He also told us that the US Youth Olympic trials would be in April of 2014. Unfortunately Josephus got injured and he could not go to the trials with me.
MileSplit US: What is like to for the second straight summer and first two years of high school to be traveling overseas to a foreign country representing the United States in a World Championship meet?
Lyles: It feels so amazing. My dad said that we would be making US teams in high school, but I didn't believe him. Now I'm about to run for my second US team. I never thought that my high school season would be like this. And the fact that my brother made World Junior is just as cool.
MileSplit US: Talk about the incredible outdoor season that your brother Josephus just had. You were always the more well known Lyles for the first year and a half of high school and then Josephus just suddenly is a New Balance Nationals 400 champ and World Junior 4x400 gold medalist. Where did that come from?
Lyles: Well Josephus got injured at the beginning of indoor and we had been doing everything to get him back in shape. As the oudoor season continued, he got better and better. When we got to New Balance Nationals, he was just excited to be in the fastest heat. He told me my mom and my dad that day "I'm going to win this race". Then he won. After that race, I knew he would make the World Junior team.
MileSplit US: What made you decide not to join him and make the trip out to Eugene to compete at the US Junior Nationals to vie for a spot on the World Junior team? Did already know you were going to China later in the summer for Team USA factor in on that decision?
Lyles: I did already know I was going to be on the World Youth Olympic team. I was planning on going to US Junior Nationals, but I decided it would too much of a strain on my body.
MileSplit US: What did you gain most of your experience last year competing at the World Youth Championships in Ukraine that you can use for this coming trip and meet in China?
Lyles: Mostly that it is not something you should be scared of. All the kids going are around the same skill level as you. Also these meets are meant to prepare you for bigger things down the road, so just have fun.
MileSplit US: It is a much smaller contingent of Americans (15 total including only 5 male athletes) going to the World Youth Olympic Games as you get paired up with other countries from the continent as a team and relays. How different will that be from last year's experience with a larger Team USA and do you think that will force you interact and get to know athletes from the other countries?
Lyles: I think it will be more fun then last year. I do think it will force me to talk to more people but that's the exciting part. I also think it is a good chance to get closer to the people on the US team.
MileSplit US: What is it about the 200 meter dash that it makes it your primary event that suits you best?
Lyles: I think its because its in the middle of the 100 and the 400. I dont have to run as long but I can still reach my top speed
MileSplit US: After last year making it to the semis at the World Youth Championships, how do you feel about your chances this year to make the finals and medal at the World Youth Olympic Games?
Lyles: I feel realy good. I'm going in as I think the #1 seed and plan to leaving China with the gold medal.
Lyles: I am the older one. I am glad we are in the same grade because we will always have half of a relay and I will always have a training partner.
MileSplit US: An All-American both indoor and outdoor in the 200 with a sub 21 time as a sophomore finishing behind eventual World Junior champion Trentavis Friday. Are you hoping someday and feeling good about your future to maybe achieve some of the success and post the times that Trentavis ran this summer by your senior year? What are the big long range goals for you in track?
Lyles: I definitely plan to run what he did. We will also be on the same US team one day. My long term goal for high school is to run 19 seconds [in the 200] my senior year and make the 2016 Olympic team. I also want to run as a professional after college.
MileSplit US: So the goal is to have enough Team USA gear by graduation that you won't have to do any school clothes shopping?
Lyles: (Laughing) Yeah. I guess you could say that.
Related Links:
- Noah Lyles Athlete Profile & Stats
- Josephus Lyles Athlete Profile & Stats
- Race Video: The Lyles Brothers Going 1-2 in VA 6A State Meet 200m Finals
- Top National Returnees in Boys 200m Dash for 2014-2015