Noah Lyles in action at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (© Getty Images)
Organisers of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix have announced that world 200m champion Noah Lyles will face off against world indoor bronze medallist Ronnie Baker and world U20 record-holder Erriyon Knighton in the 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting on 6 February.
Making his second appearance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in as many years, Lyles will be looking to add the 60m title to the one he captured over 200m in 2021, a season that saw him earn Olympic bronze and record the fastest time in the world for 200m.
Baker, who finished fifth in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics, and World Athletics Rising Star Knighton, who placed fourth over 200m in the Japanese capital, will line up against Lyles.
Another exciting clash is shaping up in the women’s 3000m, as the previously announced Elle Purrier St Pierre will take on Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, the Canadian indoor and outdoor record-holder at 1500m and the mile, and fifth-place finisher over 1500m at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 2017 world steeplechase champion Emma Coburn and European indoor 3000m champion Amy-Eloise Markovc are also in the field.
Two double Olympic medallists will clash in the women’s 300m. Gabby Thomas, who earned 200m bronze and 4x100m silver in Tokyo, will once again take on Lynna Irby, who last year won Olympic gold in the women’s 4x400m and bronze in the mixed 4x400m. The duo raced over this distance at last year’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with Thomas getting the verdict, 35.73 to 35.99 – the first time two women had bettered 36 seconds for the distance indoors.
Other top athletes already confirmed for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix include world indoor 60m hurdles record-holder and Olympic silver medallist Grant Holloway, and 2021 world 100m leader Trayvon Bromell, who will line up over 200m.
Organisers for World Athletics
