Is Noah Lyles ducking Akani Simbine? Fans are starting to think so. Well, we know every track and field fan might be looking at Akani Simbine’s 2025 form and thinking, ‘Not this time.’ And honestly? Seems like even Noah Lyles is doing the same. The Paris 100m gold medalist is set to race, but not in the 100m. We all thought he’d be there, right? But nope. When the Adidas Atlanta City Games dropped their lineup for May 17, both Akani and Noah were listed… and fans immediately thought, ‘Is this the showdown we’ve all been waiting for?!‘ Wow, the hype was real. But hold up, don’t get too excited.

While they’ll both be in the same event, they won’t be racing each other. Yeah, you heard that right. They’ll cross paths, but not in the same race. What?! Fans were all pumped for the head-to-head, but instead, we’re left with a whole lot of what could’ve been. Major letdown. So, who is Akani racing with if not Noah Lyles? Let’s break it down.

Track and Field Gazette just dropped a bomb on X about Akani Simbine! Well, this guy is about to ignite the track at the 2025 Atlanta City Games on May 17th! You know Simbine, right? The powerhouse sprinter who finished fifth in the 100m at the 2016 Olympics and once held the African record at 9.84 seconds—until Ferdinand Omanyala came in and snatched that crown. But guess what? Simbine is back, and he’s coming in hot for the 100m at Piedmont Park. But hold up—it’s not just Simbine out here. The competition is fierce!

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, the USA’s Erriyon Knighton and Kendal Williams, and Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike. And don’t sleep on the Jamaican squad—Cravont Charleston, Terrance Laird, Ryiem Forde, Kadrian Goldson, and Deandre Daley are all bringing their A-game. This 100m race is shaping up to be pure fireworks—you won’t want to miss it. Now, as for Noah Lyles—what’s he up to this year?  Well, 2025 is looking different for him, but what distance will he be racing at Adidas Atlantic City?

Can Noah Lyles outrun history to break Bolt’s record?

Well, Noah Lyles will be performing in the Atlantic City Adidas event with one huge goal: to break Usain Bolt’s 150m world record! Yes, you heard that right – 150 meters! Now, this isn’t just any record; it’s the one Bolt set back in May 2009 when he raced down a straight track in Manchester and clocked 14.35 seconds. But here’s the crazy part—Lyles came SO close to breaking that record last year, running 14.41 seconds at the Atlanta City Games. Just 0.06 seconds away! Can you even imagine the feeling when he crossed the line, knowing he was that close? This time around, though, Lyles is laser-focused and ready to make history.

But here’s the thing, Lyles won’t be racing alone. He’s got some serious competition in Atlanta, with Zharnel Hughes, Alexander Ogando, and Ferdinand Omanyala all gunning for that top spot. These guys are among the fastest 150m runners EVER, so it’s not going to be easy. But Lyles isn’t just in it for a record. He’s looking ahead to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where he plans to win gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. The guy is on fire after taking gold in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While he won’t be competing alongside Akani Simbine in this event, it’s hard not to think about the Akani vs. Noah showdown.

If we look at their past achievements, the rivalry is real. Simbine has been unstoppable for years, running under 10 seconds in the 100m for 11 consecutive seasons, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record of 10 seasons. His personal best stands at 9.82 seconds, and while he hasn’t claimed an Olympic gold yet, he’s earned multiple medals at the African Championships and Commonwealth Games. On the other hand, Noah Lyles has made a massive impact with his pursuit of titles and records. Although he has a personal best of 9.79 seconds to his name, Lyles won Olympic gold in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won his triple gold in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the 2023 World Championships held in Oregon. Can Lyles break Bolt’s record?

He definitely has it, but if we take a look at the Simbine 2025 season, he is on fire! Even though this time there is no Lyles vs Akani. But what if they both will race in the future? Well, looking at Akani, in every race he is entering, he’s winning. In April, he timed 9.90 seconds to win a world-leading performance at the Botswana Grand Prix, making it 11 years consecutively that he has been running under 10 seconds. Then, who will prevail – Lyles chasing the record or Simbine, conquering all in sight in his season? One thing’s for sure: we have a lot of drama, excitement, and speed to look forward to in the season.