Noah Lyles, who turns 20 in two months, is having an incredible rookie pro season.
On Friday, the T.C. Williams (Va.) High graduate ran the 200m in an astonishing 19.90 seconds into a headwind at the Shanghai Diamond League, becoming just the fourth man to do so before turning 20.
It was the Adidas athlete's Diamond League debut.
According to all-time athletics and this updated world age class records list, Lyles became the fourth man to earn those marks before turning 20.
Usain Bolt has the world junior record at 19.93 seconds, and like Lyles, Alonso Edward and Adam Gemili broke 20 in their age-20 years -- athletes are only juniors/U20 through the end of the year in which they turn 19.
His decision to turn pro is looking good.
His time of 19.90 seconds would make him the fifth fastest collegian and second fastest NCAA freshman ever, as well as the fastest freshman in 18 years. The current NCAA leader is 20.14 seconds, nearly a quarter second slower than what Lyles ran today.
And Lyles, who ran a world best 31.87 second 300m indoors at the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships in March, ran that into a -0.4 headwind.
