Fred Kerley Slams USA Over Noah Lyles Decision at Glasgow World Indoor Championships

• Fred Kerley has slammed the USATF for putting Noah Lyles in the 4 by 400m race
• The 2022 100m World Champion said he had asked for that opportunity in Glasgow
• Lyles has no known prolific record in the 400m ahead of an expected attempt in Paris

Fred Kerley has harshly criticised the United States of American Track and Field Federation (USATF) for their decision to include Noah Lyles in the 4 by 400m team.

Lyles was surprisingly included in Team USA's team for the 4 by 400m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on March 3.

The reigning world 100m and 200m champion had little prior experience running the two-lap (indoors) race before his surprise inclusion in the final.

In a series of heavily-worded posts on X, the former world 100m champion took offence with the decision, disclosing that runners with prior experience in the 400m have previously asked for that opportunity but were denied.

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Lyles had earlier indicated his desire to sweep every available medal to him, especially at the summer Olympics in Paris - an aspect Kerley didn't want to hear.

"Man, I tell you, for the last three years, we have been asking to be in that [expletive] that Olympic storyline. Y'all puppets are not in between, either."

Why did Lyles run the relays?

Former American sprinter, Bianca Knight, alluded to Lyles' rising influence in the sport to the USA's decision to include him in the longer version of the relays.

"This is why you guys have to pay attention. Our sport is more about storylines than it is ability. If a big name says they want to get X amount of medals at a major championship, things will be moved around to make that happen. It's been happening."

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In the race, Lyles was handed the third leg. He was the fastest runner, clocking a 45.68-second split, but it wasn't enough to win them gold. Alexander Doom ran a brilliant anchor leg to win gold for Belgium ahead of the USA.

Lyles had earlier won silver at the men's 60m, failing to beat compatriot and world record holder, Christian Coleman.

Speaking after the race, the 26-year-old responded to Kerley's sentiments, saying that if he wanted to be there, he should have been there.

Kipchoge 10th in Tokyo marathon

Sports Brief also previously reported that Benson Kipruto won the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.

He shattered Eliud Kipchoge's record in a time of 2:02:16 to lead the Kenyan 1-2-3 sweep.

Kipchoge had an uncharacteristic off day, finishing 10th in a lowest-ever marathon placing.