On 26 August 2023, a 21-year-old Jamaican sprinter took his position for the 4x100m relay race at the Budapest WAC. The young athlete had a clear goal: to win and defeat arch-rivals United States. However, his team had to settle for bronze as he watched four Americans surpass them and win the gold medal. Today, the young boy returned to complete his mission at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

While he could not bag the gold medal in the 60m dash he participated in, he did create a big impact. Although the now 22-year-old Ackeem Blake lost to Noah Lyles, he exacted his revenge by leaving five Americans behind in the race. In fact, he almost defeated the Budapest threepeater with his astonishing speed.

The Ackeem Blake show at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Ackeem Blake displayed a phenomenal performance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix and decimated nearly every US sprinter. Winning the race, Noah Lyles clocked a time of 6.44 seconds. However, Blake was right on the heel of Lyles and recorded just a hundredth of a second more, finishing at 6.45 seconds. 

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The young Jamaican defeated Lyles’ rival Fred Kerley, whom many pegged as the silver medalist or a possible gold medalist. Interestingly, while Ackeem Blake finished slower than Lyles at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, his personal best could have crushed Noah Lyles as well.

While the 6.44 finish is a new personal best for Lyles, Blake’s fastest 60m finish was clocked at 6.42 seconds. Thus, while the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix witnessed a close shave, Blake is someone Lyles should be vary of. In fact, the young Jamaican might also pose a threat to Lyles in a 100m sprint.

The new big rival of Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles captured the men’s 100m dash gold medal at the 2023 WAC by posting a new personal record of 9.83 seconds. However, being just 0.02 seconds slower in the Eugene Diamond League cost him the gold medal. Interestingly, Ackeem Blake’s fastest 100m time is 9.89 seconds, and it was recorded in 2023 in Los Angeles.

WATCH STORY – Noah Lyles Is All In, Rooting for the $155M Esports Giants at World 2023

If the Puma athlete keeps this up, he can become a big obstacle for Noah Lyles alongside Erriyon Knighton, Lestile Tebogo, and Christian Coleman. While the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix wasn’t a complete success for Blake, can he overcome the sixth American at the event in the future?

Noah Lyles Leaves ‘Boastful’ Fred Kerley in Shambles After New Balance Indoor Gold