Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley’s Careers Compared Amid War of Words Between Two World Champions

• Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles rivalry has been rekindled
• The two American stars' beef was renewed last weekend
• Lyles and Kerley have won the last two 100m world titles

This past weekend, Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley reignited their rivalry during the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

The two Americans exchanged words during last year's World Athletics Championships, and it seems these two sprinters have a score to settle.

Both have won global gold and Olympic medals, and this year promises to deliver an epic showdown.

Kerley didn't participate in the World Indoor Championships, but Lyles participated in two events. The outdoor season kicks off soon, and the two stars could face off.

With Usain Bolt and Jamaica's dominance in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay over, Kerley, Lyles, and USA have taken over the distances in the last few years.

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In addition, 2024 is an Olympic year, and the two stars will be seeking to take gold back home. So, how have their careers fared so far?

Fred Kerley career

The Texas-born sprinter's rise to stardom began in 2017 when he won the NCAA indoor and outdoor 400m titles. The 400m was his preferred race before he switched to the shorter sprints in 2021. He hasn't looked back since.

At the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, he finished seventh in the 400m with a time of 45.23 seconds. The 28-year-old also won silver in the 4x400 relay in London, per World Athletics.

In the 2019 edition in Doha, Qatar, he improved to get a 400m bronze in 44.17 seconds and gold in the 400m relay.

At the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, he narrowly missed out on the 100m gold medal. He lost to Italian Marcell Jacobs, who took gold in 9.80 seconds. The American took silver in 9.84 seconds. 2022 was probably his best year. He won the 100m world title on home soil in 9.86 seconds.

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In 2023, he had a season to forget. He failed to reach the final of the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. His title defence ended in the semi-final as Lyles won gold in the final.

This year, he has an opportunity to bounce back after his setbacks last year. Can he finally get that Olympic crown?

Noah Lyles career

There's no bigger track athlete than Lyles right now. The American had a historic year in 2023 and wants to win bigger things this year. Before all that success, he had to overcome personal struggles, especially before and after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

According to the Washington Post, Lyles struggled with depression most of his life, and the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated it. In 2020, he began taking antidepressants.

In 2022, Lyles set the third-fastest 200m time (19.31 seconds) ever at the World Athletics Championships. Only Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake are faster than Lyles in the distance.

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At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he became only the third man ever, after Maurice Greene and Usain Bolt, to win the 100m and 200m world titles. He set a personal best of 9.83 seconds in the 100m.

The 26-year-old also anchored Team USA to gold in the 4x100m relay.

In 2019, he took part in his first global event. He won gold medals in the 200m and relay in Doha but could only get a bronze in the Olympics.

He has started 2024 well with two silver medals in the World Indoor Championships. He is the favourite to win gold in the 1200m and 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lyles vs Kerley's careers

Lyles turns 27 before the Olympics, while Kerley turns 29. Both sprinters are probably at the same stage in their careers. Lyles edges Kerley in world titles, but none have an Olympic title to their name.

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Kerley has a better personal best (9.76 seconds) in the 100m than Lyles (9.83 seconds). Lyles, however, has a better PB (19.31seconds) in the 200m compared to Kerley (19.76 seconds).

These two will clash in the 100m and 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics to settle their long-running beef.

Kerley aims jibe at Lyles

Sports Brief earlier reported on Kerley directing a jibe at Lyles after USA's decision to let the 100m world champion take part in the 4x400m relay in Glasgow.

Lyles had little prior experience running the two-lap (indoors) race before his surprise inclusion in the final.

The 2022 100m world champion was unhappy with the decision, disclosing that runners with prior experience in the 400m have previously asked for that opportunity but were denied.