Noah Lyles vs. Tyreek Hill race would be good for TV, but not competitive on the track
A few days after Xavier Worthy broke the NFL combine 40-yard dash record, USA TODAY Sports sarcastically asked the then-draft prospect if he thought he could beat Usain Bolt in the 40-yard dash.
Bolt, the former Jamaican track and field superstar, eight-time Olympic gold medalist, and 100- and 200-meter world-record holder, effortlessly ran a 4.22 in the 40-yard dash in sweats and sneakers at the NFL Experience in 2019.
Advertisement
Worthy clocked in with an NFL combine record-setting time of 4.21 at the 2024 NFL scouting combine.
'No,' Worthy answered when asked if he could beat Bolt. 'His 40 was in shoes and sweats. There's no comparison. I'm not even gonna disrespect him.'
MORE: What is the fastest NFL combine 40-yard dash time?
Worthy's honest assessment applies to Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, too.
Hill and Olympic 100-meter champion Noah Lyles have playfully gone back and forth about competing against each other in a race. Their scheduled race was canceled in June due to what Lyles described as "complications" and "personal reasons."
Advertisement
The race would've been good publicity for both athletes and brought more casual fans to the sport of track and field. But let's stop the charade. Hill is not in the same league as Lyles or any world-class sprinter when it comes to speed.
Hill did beat Lyles' younger brother, Josephus, in a 100 prelim at the ATX Sprint Classic on Saturday with a wind-aided time of 10.10. Hill conveniently elected not to run in the final, where the top five finishers all ran sub-10 seconds (all times were wind-aided).
Hill, who competed in track and field in college, has a personal best legal time of 10.15 seconds in the 100 meters. The Dolphins wideout would've placed ninth at the 2024 U.S. Olympic track and field trials if he equaled his record.
Hill's top mark in the 60 is 6.64. His record in the 60 would've been good enough for eighth in the event at the 2025 U.S. Indoor track and field championships.
Advertisement
Noah won a gold medal in the 100 at the Paris Olympics with a personal-best of 9.79. His lifetime best in the 60 is 6.43. Both times are comfortably ahead of Hill's all-time best marks.
Furthermore, Noah's 10 best times in the 100 are sub-9.90. His top 10 times in the 60 are all 6.55 or better. All of which are faster than Hill's lifetime best in both events.
The times don't lie. They reveal the obvious truth.
Yes, the Noah Lyles vs. Tyreek Hill showdown would've been entertaining for sports fans. They are two of the biggest stars in their respective sports. But it wouldn't have been a competitive race.
Advertisement
Hill is arguably the fastest person in the NFL (although Worthy might have something to say about that). Lyles currently holds the title of the fastest man in the world, having won the Olympic gold medal in the 100. They are marquee athletes, but there's a distinct difference between football speed and world-class track speed.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyreek Hill vs. Noah Lyles race would be entertaining, not competitive
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Angels miss chance to move above .500, losing to Nationals
Nationals fielder Jacob Young avoids a pitch while trying to bunt during the fifth inning of a game against the Angels Sunday at Angel Stadium. (William Liang / Associated Press) Young Angels fans who lined the infield for autographs as the team jogged onto the field Sunday, may not know the thrill, heart-racing suspense of the postseason — nor the captivating, religious-like fervor the rally monkey could bring. Neither did the Angels that took their places in the field, combining for zero postseason appearances — a group that hadn't even made their major-league debuts when Mike Trout last led the Angels to the playoffs. Advertisement 2014 represents the longest postseason drought in MLB. Meanwhile, the 2002 World Series title may read more as a story told by parents to the kids who ran back up into the shaded seats away from the blistering sun after receiving signed baseballs from a group featuring some present-day Angels — Nolan Schanuel, Christian Moore and Logan O'Hoppe. Does the pressure of holding a postseason spot, potentially hitting a benchmark goal before the All-Star break, change the short-term focus of the franchise? When asked about the expectations before Sunday's game, interim manager Ray Montgomery said he's just focused on the now, a message he's been trying to instill in the clubhouse since spring training. 'If we worry about ourselves and playing the day that we're scheduled to play, and not worry about the other stuff, we'll continue to be fine,' Montgomery said. On Sunday, however, focus collapsed in the ninth and extra innings, a winning record remaining just past arm's length in the Angels' 11-inning, 7-4 defeat to the Nationals (35-49). Closer Kenley Jansen blew his first save of the season in the ninth while up one run, and despite a scoreless 10th from Connor Brogdon, he gave up three runs (two earned) in the 11th after a CJ Abrams triple broke the game open. Advertisement The Angels (41-42) had plenty of opportunity to hold on to secure their first winning record since April 20. Outfielder Taylor Ward had a career-high three doubles, the first of which scored Schanuel — who reached on a walk — in the first to give the Angels a 1-0 lead. In the sixth, down 2-1, Ward led off the bottom half with a double, on a ground ball deflected by a diving attempt by Nationals third baseman Brady House. Read more: Angels' Ron Washington will remain on medical leave for rest of season The eighth-year Angels veteran scored on a single from Jo Adell — extending his hit streak to a career-high 11 games — in the next at bat. Moore, who got his first taste of stardom Saturday with a fan meet-and-greet in Tustin, treated the home crowd to a go-ahead single scoring Adell later in the inning. Quickly becoming a fan favorite for the Halos faithful, Moore capped off his introductory homestand with another clutch at bat — in a week that started with a bang thanks to his two home run spectacle Tuesday against the Red Sox. The rookie second baseman collected five tying or go-ahead hits across the homestand. Advertisement Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz was drilled in the left leg with a comebacker in the first inning, but pitched into the fifth until Montgomery pulled the sinkerballer after a walk and double. He gave up two runs and five hits and two walks, while striking out two. The Angels bullpen was solid after Kochanowicz removal, combining for five strikeouts, three walks, three hits and two runs before extra innings began. Reid Detmers highlighted the combined effort, striking out three across 1 ⅓ innings, and helping Ryan Zeferjahn escape the seventh with just one run to his name. The southpaw was in line for the victory before Jansen's blown save sent the game to extra innings. Jumping for Jo(y) Adell has strung together a potential AL Player of the Month-level campaign in June, socking 11 home runs — best in the AL — as well as .284 batting average and 18 RBIs. Advertisement So far, Adell is already on pace a career-high in wins above replacement rating with 1.0 entering the game, according to Baseball Reference, and is on track for career-best marks in on-base percentage and slugging percentage as well. 'I'm rooting for him,' Montgomery said. 'The home runs are nice, and it's a byproduct of being on the field every day, the work he's doing. But everything defensively, base running, he's contributing every way possible.' Etc. Zach Neto pinch-hit in the seventh inning for shortstop Kevin Newman and then played the remainder of the game — his first time back fielding since jamming his shoulder Tuesday. Advertisement Montgomery said before the game that conversations with Neto and the medical staff leaned to giving him a full off day, along with having the Monday off day, rather than just being in the lineup as the designated hitter. But when push came to shove in a then-tied game, Neto (0-for-2) and Mike Trout — who began the game on the bench — had an at bat. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Drew Millas' go-ahead double
Why Arkansas's elimination from College World Series is 'heartbreaking' | Baseball Bar-B-Cast Yahoo Sports senior MLB analyst Jake Mintz and senior MLB analyst Jordan Shusterman react to Arkansas blowing a 5-3 lead in the 9th inning of their second game against LSU in the College World Series semifinal. Hear the full conversation on the 'Baseball Bar-B-Cast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. 2:38 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Announce Big Caitlin Clark News on Sunday
Indiana Fever Announce Big Caitlin Clark News on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark has had an eventful sophomore campaign through the team's first 16 games of the WNBA season. Advertisement She's missed several of those contests due to injuries—sidelined for five games with a quad strain and the last two with a groin issue. Still, when on the court, Clark has been nothing short of dominant, averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. Her stellar play led to a major announcement on Sunday from the WNBA and the Fever. Clark has officially been named a captain for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, which will take place in Indianapolis on July 19. She'll be joined by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier as the other captain, with the pair set to draft their respective teams—similar to the NBA's recent All-Star format. "captain CC," Fever posted. "Caitlin Clark is a #WNBAAllStar2025 captain and two-time All-Star." According to Fever reporter Scott Agness, Caitlin Clark led all WNBA players in All-Star voting with an impressive 1,293,526 votes. Right behind her was fellow captain Napheesa Collier, who received 1,176,020 votes. Advertisement Clark and Collier will select their teams on July 8, with the All-Star reserves—chosen by WNBA head coaches—set to be revealed Monday night at 7 p.m. ET. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images As the Fever noted, Clark is now two-for-two in All-Star selections to begin her WNBA career. This year's honor is particularly special, as the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Clark remains day-to-day with a groin injury, and the hope is she'll return to action Tuesday night against the Minnesota Lynx with the Commissioner's Cup on the line. If she's unable to go, her next opportunity will be Thursday against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Advertisement Related: Aliyah Boston Makes Strong Caitlin Clark Statement After Indiana Fever Practice This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
