Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles announces first race of 2026

American sprint superstar Noah Lyles has confirmed his first race of the 2026 season, returning to familiar territory as he lines up for the 60m dash at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, the USA, on Saturday, 24 January.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

The reigning Olympic 100m champion heads back to Boston for what will be his eighth appearance at the event, opening his year at a meet that has become a cornerstone of his indoor campaigns.

Gor Mahia explain why only 18,000 fans will be allowed inside Nyayo Stadium for Mashemeji Derby

Lyles enters 2026 off the back of a glittering 2025 season that began in the same arena, where he secured his fourth consecutive 60m victory, and ended with him lifting his fourth straight world title over 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

He also collected a bronze medal in the 100m and anchored Team USA to gold in the 4x100m relay.

While Lyles’ return headlines the sprints, the men’s 2000m promises one of the most intriguing matchups of the night. The race brings together athletes moving up and down in distance: 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman and American distance runner Grant Fisher.

Wightman, who missed the 2023 and 2024 championship seasons due to injury, made a dramatic comeback in 2025 by winning silver in the 1500m in Tokyo. His return to full strength has been one of the sport’s feel-good stories.

Fisher, meanwhile, continues to solidify his status as one of the greatest long-distance runners in American history. After securing bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he tore up the indoor circuit last year, setting world records in both the 3000m and 5000m.

Gor Mahia dealt double Injury blow ahead of Mashemeji Derby against AFC Leopards

The women’s events will feature a fan favourite in Elle St. Pierre, the US indoor 3000m record-holder.

A native of nearby Vermont, St. Pierre returns to the Boston meet with an impressive résumé: gold at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where she set a national record of 8:20.87, and silver at the 2022 edition of the event. She also reached the 1500m final at the Paris Olympic Games.

After taking most of the 2025 season off for maternity leave, her return adds an emotional layer to the night as she steps back into competition at one of her home meets.

The 2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, a founding member of the World Athletics Indoor Tour, continues to anchor the global indoor season.

The series features the world’s top indoor events, offering a $10,000 prize and an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, to overall tour winners.

Bajaber scores on debut for Simba as Yanga's Abuya bags Man of the Match award [VIDEO]

Now in its 31st edition, the Boston meet carries a rich history, having hosted nine world records and 16 American records.