Noah Lyles’s Search for a 100m Win this Season Continues After the Olympic Champion was Beaten for a Second Time in Three Races by Oblique Seville in a Downpour.

Noah Lyles’s Search for a 100m Win this Season Continues After the Olympic Champion was Beaten for a Second Time in Three Races by Oblique Seville in a Downpour.

 

Noah Lyles’s hunt for a 100m victory this season hit another roadblock on Wednesday night, as the Olympic champion was outpaced once again by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in a dramatic, rain-drenched race at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League meet.

In treacherous conditions that left the track slick and the crowd soaked, Seville surged to victory in 9.95 seconds, showcasing his growing dominance over the shorter sprint distance. Lyles, who was gunning for his first 100m win of the season, crossed the line in 10.03 seconds, settling for second — just as he did three weeks ago in Monaco, where Seville had also bested him.

It’s the second loss in three 100m races for Lyles this season, raising questions about his form over the shorter sprint as he continues his ambitious quest for sprint dominance. The American star, who clinched Olympic gold in the 200m in Paris and is a multiple-time world champion, has long expressed his desire to master both the 100m and 200m — the latter being his signature event.

Speaking after the race, Lyles was visibly frustrated but remained defiant.

> “Conditions weren’t ideal, but that’s not an excuse,” Lyles said. “Oblique ran a great race — again. I’ve got work to do, but the season’s not over. I’m not backing down.”

Seville, 24, has quietly become one of the most consistent 100m performers in 2025, and Wednesday’s win only reinforced his growing stature in the sprinting world. After placing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and narrowly missing the podium again in Paris, he seems determined to claim his place at the top.

> “I’ve been working hard for moments like this,” said Seville, who clocked his second sub-10 performance of the month. “Beating Noah twice — that means a lot. He’s the guy right now, and I want to challenge him every time we line up.”

The race itself was delayed briefly due to heavy rain, and sprinters had to contend with both wet starting blocks and a slow, waterlogged surface. Despite that, Seville’s explosive start gave him the edge from the outset. Lyles, typically known for his late-race surge, couldn’t close the gap this time.

Third place went to Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who clocked 10.07 seconds, further crowding the competitive men’s 100m scene.

As the Diamond League Final in Eugene looms, all eyes will be on whether Lyles can respond. The American sprinter still leads the standings thanks to consistent finishes, but he will need to rediscover his top-end speed quickly if he hopes to end the season with a 100m win.

While Lyles continues to dominate in the 200m — where he remains unbeaten this year — his quest to conquer the full sprint double remains a work in progress. And with rising threats like Seville making their presence known, the 100m crown appears far from secure.