Noah Lyles’ Warning Proves True as Track & Field Coach Flags System Flaws After US Nationals Fumble

The US Nationals, America’s crown jewel of track and field, should be a can’t-miss spectacle, but in 2025, it’s slipping into the shadows. Some events air on Peacock TV, others on USATF.tv, with 100m run free streams available, leaving fans scrambling to catch the action. It’s a confusing mess, and the sport feels like it’s fading from view. Why is our biggest domestic meet struggling to stay on screen?

Enter Coach Rob, a track and field sage, who took to his YouTube channel to echo a warning from none other than Noah Lyles. Earlier this year, before Lyles laced up for the season, he was sounding alarms in interviews about the sport’s broken system. Coach Rob, nodding along, said, “Noah Lyles tried to tell us… there is an issue in the sport, and I agree with him.” Lyles’ point? Athletes are funneled toward the Olympics and World Championships, with little room to prioritize anything else. But is that setup sustainable?

Rob agrees with Lyles’ diagnosis, though he’s not sold on every fix Lyles proposes. “You can’t really beat him up for that,” Rob said, praising Lyles’ sharp take: athletes at the top have no choice. “The only thing that exists is the Worlds and the Olympics. That’s it.” Sponsorships, contracts, and media hype all revolve around those global stages. The US Nationals? It’s the biggest domestic meet, but it’s treated like a stepping stone. Rob calls this a “flawed system,” nothing like the NFL or NBA’s robust seasons. So, why does track and field feel so stuck?

The broadcasting concerns at the 2025 US Nationals proves Lyles and Rob right. If even this premier event can’t secure consistent airtime, what does that say about the sport’s priorities? “We really have to take a hard look at ourselves,” Rob urged. The lack of TV coverage slashes visibility, starves fan engagement, and dims athletes’ spotlight. Can the sport afford to stay invisible?

This isn’t just about one meet. Noah Lyles and Coach Rob are spotlighting a deeper truth: track and field’s structure is failing its stars and fans. Without a fix—maybe a league-style season or better media deals—the sport risks fading further. What will it take to bring America’s running scene back into the light?

USATF’s vanishing meets leave track fans in the dark

America’s track and field scene is feeling emptier in 2025. The USATF’s “Journey to Gold Tour,” meant to hype the sport toward the 2028 LA Olympics, just hit a wall. Three flagship meets—Bermuda, Los Angeles, and New York City—were all canceled, stripping fans of must-watch moments. With only bits of the US Nationals on Peacock TV and USATF.tv’s 100 free streams, the sport’s pulse is fading. Why are these pro meets disappearing?

The Bermuda Grand Prix, despite its odd non-US location, had solid backing from the Bermuda Tourism Authority until its director, Hazel Clark, left in January 2025. A week later, the BTA pulled funding, citing a tough post-Olympic landscape. “The assessment determined that the evolving post-Olympic landscape posed significant challenges to achieving the desired return on investment for spring 2025.” the BTA told The Royal Gazette. USATF, already stretched thin, couldn’t keep it alive. So, what killed the others?

In LA, wildfires and a clash with Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track sank the Grand Prix. USATF CEO Max Siegel admitted, “It did not make business sense” to compete for fans at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. The NYC Grand Prix? USATF cut TV production funds, and disputes over adding field events tanked it. Can these meets bounce back?

With no NBC broadcasts, last year’s NYC drew 1.371 million viewers, the track’s visibility is cratering. As 2028 looms, will USATF find a way to bring these meets, and the sport’s buzz, back to life?