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Deji’s Doodles: Lyles and Holloway light up Boston with big performances, Wilson shows his precociousness as Hoey upset favourites
It only takes one meet to get things underway and we got that last week. Now the big boys have begun flexing their muscles with their star attraction. Noah Lyles, Julien Alfred, Grant Holloway and many more all put up a show for the Boston crowd.
Here are some of the talking points from the weekend action.
Noah Lyles ends his indoor season in style
You can’t be a fan of modern day sport and say you haven’t heard about Noah Lyles. The sprinter has made sure he brings life to his races anytime he gets on the track to run. In recent times, it has even evolved to promoting athletics and finding ways to create narratives and storylines that resonate with the casual fan.
For the latter to be feasible he needs to be able to win. And he sure does it in style. His latest win came indoors at the New Balance Indoor when he didn’t have to break sweat to win in 6.52s. It was the first matchup between the last two Olympic Champions in a race since Usain Bolt and Justin Galtin met up over a decade ago. This time, Marcell Jacobs, who won the world indoor title in Belgrade in 2022 wasn’t; a match for Lyles, who seems to be brushing aside his rivals with relative ease.
Lyles had a message for the sport: it needs more excitement. He suggested giving winners a championship belt, something tangible that would bring drama and give sprinters a reason to return each year.
For Lyles, it’s no longer just about gold medals. He’ll run the World Championships this summer because it’s the biggest event in track and field. But he hasn’t committed to Grand Slam Track—not until there’s a TV deal in place. And he’s skipping World Indoors this year to focus on other ventures.
Maybe that includes a match race with NFL star Tyreek Hill. After crossing the line Saturday, Lyles ripped off his bib to reveal a hidden message: “Tyreek could never.” It’s moments like this that make Lyles different. He’s chasing more than fast times—he’s chasing mainstream attention.
Grant Holloway goes through the motions in Boston
Grant Holloway does not lose indoors. Not in the 60m hurdles. Not for 11 years.
On Saturday, he kept that streak alive at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, winning his fourth straight title in 7.42 seconds. He made it look easy, just as he always does. Holloway is fast, but it’s his consistency that sets him apart. He doesn’t just win, he controls races from start to finish. In the final, he exploded out of the blocks and never looked back, leaving Freddie Crittenden (7.54) and the rest of the field chasing shadows.
He had already won his heat in 7.47, barely breaking a sweat. By the time the final came around, it was clear no one was going to challenge him.
At 26 years old, Holloway has mastered this event. He owns the world record (7.29). He has three world titles in the 110m hurdles. But indoors? This is his playground.
Julien Alfred Opens Season with Saint Lucian Record in the 300m
Julien Alfred wasted no time making a statement in her season opener. The Olympic 100m champion stepped up to the 300m and delivered a Saint Lucian record of 36.16, taking the win in style.
Lining up against her training partner Dina Asher-Smith, Alfred showed her strength and speed, pulling away to secure victory. Asher-Smith finished second in 36.87, but this race belonged to Alfred.
Surely we won’t be seeing her race this long a distance considering she’s the 60m indoor and 100m outdoor champion. These are the kind of races you call tune-ups and she showed her dexterity. It’s an early test for the sprint star, and she passed with flying colors. If this is just the beginning, expect much more to come. Alfred is locked in for another big year.
Like Lyles, we still don’t know if she will opt out of the world indoor championships in China, but if this race proves one thing, it’s that the Olympic Champion has still got the goods in her bag.
Quincy Wilson Keeps Proving He’s the Future of U.S. Sprinting
Quincy WIlson has picked up easily from where he left off last year. Not that we didn’t already know, considering he only just broke through the ranks last year.
Lest we forget, he is still in high school. But he’s already beating professionals.
At the New Balance Indoor meet, the 17-year-old sensation delivered another jaw-dropping performance, winning the men’s 400m in 45.66 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. He didn’t just win, he broke his own national high school indoor record and took down Olympic finalist Jereem Richards in the process.
Wilson ran a smart race. The indoor 400m is all about positioning, and he didn’t have the best spot at 200m, sitting in third. But he stayed patient, trusted his speed, and stormed the final straight. Even with extra steps around the turns, he found another gear and crossed the line first. It was the kind of run that reminds everyone why he’s the most exciting young sprinter in America. He’s still a teenager, but last summer, he made Team USA’s Olympic 4x400m squad—a feat almost unheard of at 16.
Two weeks ago, he lost to another high schooler, Andrew Salvodon, in the 500m. If anyone thought that was a sign to slow the hype, Wilson just gave them a clear answer. This kid is special. And he’s just getting started.
Josh Hoey Is Making a Statement
Two weeks ago, Josh Hoey shattered the American indoor record in the 1000m. On Saturday, he proved that was no fluke.
Hoey won the men’s 1500m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, running a personal best 3:33.66. It wasn’t just the time that stood out—it was how he did it.
With 800 meters to go, Hoey took charge. With 400 to go, he broke away. He closed in 28.46 and 27.37 over the final two laps, holding off Grant Fisher, one of America’s most accomplished distance runners.
That takes guts. The 25-year-old isn’t just running fast. He’s running fearlessly. Hoey has options moving forward. He’ll race Millrose next week in the 800m, where he’ll face Bryce Hoppel, one of the best in the country. After that, he’ll decide which event to run at USAs. If he qualifies, he plans to race at World Indoors.
A few months ago, few would have picked him as a name to watch. Now, he’s forcing everyone to take notice. Hoey isn’t just in great shape. He’s racing like a man who knows exactly where he’s headed.
