After world 200m champion Noah Lyles was disqualified, world record holder Christian Coleman successfully defended his Millrose Games 60-meter crown on Saturday in a time of 6.47 seconds, which is a world record for 2023.
As top athletes took an early status check at the Armory in the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold series competition, both Americans are focusing on the 100m events at the August World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
When Lyles stumbled in the starting gate, he was disqualified for a false start, but he appealed the ruling and was given the go-ahead to continue.
Coleman jumped ahead at the start and surged to the finish, ignoring the distraction to make the most of his opportunity.
“You’ve got to be a professional in those moments, try to stay composed, stay relaxed and stay locked in, and just execute your race plan,” said Coleman.
Lyles crossed the line next in 6.53 but it was Jamaican Travis Williams who placed second, edging Noah’s brother Josephus Lyles after both ran personal bests of 6.59.
“He’s a great competitor. I knew he would have some closing speed,” Coleman said of Noah Lyles. “Just tried to get to the line first.”
In Boston last week, Lyles, the current world 200-meter champion, won the 60 in a personal-best time of 6.51.
Coleman, who ran a 60-meter world record-setting 6.34 in 2018, won the indoor world 60-meter championship in 2018 and the global outdoor 100-meter championship in 2019.
