Olympic Champions Noah Lyles And Quincy Wilson Dominate New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

The third stop on the World Athletics World Indoor Tour was the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, headlined by several Olympic champions such as Noah Lyles, Masai Russell, and Julien Alfred. With just under 50 days left until the World Athletics Indoor Championships, many elite athletes have begun to show their cards and demonstrate the hard work they have been putting in since the Paris Olympics.

With the stellar performances from this evening, it is clear that the greats are more than ready for another track and field season.

Quincy Wilson Lowers His 400-Meter High School National Record

17-year-old 4×400-meter relay Olympic champion Quincy Wilson proved to the world again this evening that his speed and talent are undeniable. The young prodigy won his first 400-meter race of the season in 45.66 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than his previous record. After losing the 500-meter at the Virginia Showcase two weeks ago and facing a flood of online criticism, Wilson mentioned in his post-race interview that the loss fueled him to do his best today.

He ran a smartly planned and tactical race against the seasoned veterans Jareem Richards and Zakithi Nene, soaring past his competitors in the last 70 meters. Placing second behind Wilson was Adidas athlete Will Sumner, who famously turned professional after his freshman year at the University of Georgia two years ago.

Wilson wasn’t the only high school prodigy to rewrite history books in Boston. 18-year-old Sadie Engelhardt placed seventh in the mile, running 4:29.43 seconds, the second-fastest indoor high school mile of all-time. Only Mary Cain has gone faster. In December, Engelhardt decided to forgo the remainder of her high school eligibility and is set to start her college career at North Carolina State University this fall.

Julien Alfred Runs St. Lucia National Record In The 300-Meter, Masai Russell Continues To Show Promise As The Season Progresses

Julien Alfred made her 2025 debut in Boston, but not in the event where she earned her world indoor title last season. Alfred lined up for the 300-meter dash, where she ran 36.16 seconds to break the St. Lucia national record. Her training partner and Olympic medalist, Dina Asher-Smith, placed second in 36.87 seconds.

Alfred announced in the press conference before the meet that she would not compete in the 60-meter dash this indoor season. This means she won’t be headed to China in March to defend the title she earned last year. The commentators mentioned during the broadcast that her coach, Edrick Floreal, has plans to enter her in more open 400-meter races this year. Alfred is not changing disciplines, but this plan will help increase her strength for the 200-meter dash. At the Paris Olympics, she placed second behind Gabby Thomas. It would not be irrational to assume she is looking to upgrade that status in Tokyo at the World Athletics Outdoor Championships in September.

Masai Russell was another Olympic champion who owned the stage in Boston. In her second 60-meter hurdle race of the season, Russell ran 7.80 seconds to run the second-fastest time in the world this year. Close behind her was Olympic teammate Grace Stark, who ran 7.81 seconds.

Russell is famously known for having a vicious final five hurdles in the 100-meter hurdles. Her top-end speed and her ability to hawk down her competitors is unmatched. Based on her race today, it is clear the Olympic champion has been working on bettering her first five hurdles. She led from the front the entire way, and even when her competitors began to put pressure on her, she held her composure and earned her second 60-meter hurdle win of the year. Undoubtedly, her outdoor races will be even better than before with this improvement.

With Stark missing first by only a hundredth of a second, this performance alluded to the popular conversation surrounding the women’s short hurdles in the U.S. These women are competitive and this is one of the most difficult events to make for Team USA.

Outside of watching for the well-known names this year, fans should turn their eyes towards Jacious Sears. While competing for the University of Tennessee last season, Sears became the number two all-time 100-meter dash runner in NCAA history, with only Sha’Carri Richardson having gone faster.

Sears was poised to make Team USA last season as she was ranked number one in the world going into the U.S. Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, she sustained an injury that caused her to miss out on the chance to make the 2024 Olympic team. Her professional debut began last week at Clemson where she ran a 7.15 seconds in the 60-meter dash. After two rounds of the 60-meter dash in Boston today, she lowered her season’s best to 7.11 seconds. This is an excellent start for someone who is coming off an injury and has just begun their professional career.

Noah Lyles Wins Fourth New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Title In A Row

100-meter dash Olympic champion Noah Lyles never shies away from putting on a good performance. From his athlete walk-in to his dominance of the track, Lyles made sure to remind the world that “the Track at new balance” is his house. The Olympic champion ran 6.52 seconds to run the fifth fastest time in the world this year, adding another victory to his belt. This is the fourth year in a row that Lyles has won the 60-meter dash at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

After competing, Lyles pulled off his bib to make a bold statement to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The back of his bib read “Tyreek Could Never,” signaling back to when the NFL star challenged Lyles to a race via X. There is no official confirmation on whether this dual will take place, but Lyles expressed in his post-race interview that he is ready for any and everyone who dares to challenge him.

The next stop on the World Indoor Tour will be the 117th annual Millrose Games at the Armory in New York City on February 8th. Fans can expect to see more Olympians, such as Cole Hocker and Marcell Jacobs. Other legendary athletes, such as training partners Devynne Charlton and Masai Russell, will also return to the Armory.

Those who want to watch the professional competition live can tune into NBC and Peacock from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST. The official Millrose Games website will provide a link for live results.