Noah Lyles pays tribute to late coach after making to 'the top'

Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles pays tribute to late coach after making to 'the top'

Abigael Wafula 08:00 - 02.07.2024

Noah Lyles has paid tribute to his late high school coach Rashawn Jackson, who shaped his career, wishing he could be there to watch him achieve huge wins.

Triple world champion Noah Lyles wished his late high school coach Rashawn Jackson would be there to witness him make history.

The American sprint icon shared a post on his X (Twitter) handle, paying tribute to the late tactician who was very instrumental in shaping his career as a sprinter.

In the lengthy message, the three-time world 200m champion noted that he had finally made it to the top, something he could only dream of back in high school. He added that now his former coach is no more, Lyles was confident that he was watching him make big moves from heaved.

At the US Olympic trials, the Olympic Games bronze medallist qualified for both the 100m and 200m. In the 100m final, the 26-year-old equaled his personal best time of 9.83 to win the race ahead of Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley who clocked 9.87 and 9.88 respectively.

In the 200m, Lyles also reigned supreme, shattering Michael Johnson’s 28-year-old meet record of 19.53 ahead of Bednarek who clocked a personal best time of 19.59. Youngster Erriyon Knighton completed the podium in a time of 19.77.

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“Hey coach, we did it. We reached the top! I always thought that you would be here to see when I reached the peak though,” Lyles said.

“I guess you will have to know you are watching from heaven. I’m so glad our paths crossed because idk who I would be if they didn’t. I Love you man RIP.”

Lyles has also enjoyed a stellar season so far, going unbeaten in the 200m and losing one race in the men’s 100m. He also won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships over the 60m, in the race won by Christian Coleman.

In the 100m, Lyles lost to Jamaican wunderkind Oblique Seville at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica. He clocked 9.85 to cross the finish line behind Seville who timed a personal best time of 9.82.

He started his 200m campaign at the USATF New York City Grand Prix, winning in 19.77 before heading to the Olympic Games. In the 100m, Lyles struck wins at the Tom Jones Memorial and Bermuda Grand Prix.