The fastest man in the world over both 100m and 200m in 2018, Noah Lyles (USA) will headline what will be a battle of the fastest men in 2018 at this month’s Müller Grand Prix Birmingham at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 18 August.

Headlining the first announcement of the men’s 100m field, USA national champion Noah Lyles has proved himself to be one of the world’s best sprinters in only his second season as a professional athlete, with the 21-year-old’s national championship winning time of 9.88 seconds the equal fastest in the world this year.

 It will be Lyle’s first ever race in the UK, and the reigning Diamond League 200m champion said:

“I’m really excited to come over to the UK and race – it’s something that I feel like I’ve missed out on so far so to have the opportunity to come and experience the atmosphere in Birmingham is really cool. It is a meet that I’m now gearing my training towards and I’m looking to perform really well there.

“So far, I’m feeling really good and my training times are reflecting that I’m close to my personal best, so I’m hopeful that come Birmingham I can run the heat well and then deliver in that final.”

Joining Lyles in being confirmed for the meet in Birmingham are five fellow world-class sprinters – each of whom have run under 10 seconds in 2018 – Christian Coleman (USA), Commonwealth champion Akani Simbine (RSA) and double Olympic champion Yohan Blake (JAM).

World indoor champion and 60m world record holder Coleman has already had the benefit of feeling the Birmingham support, having won the 60m world title at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March.

Completing the additions to the field at this stage are 9.93 man and NCAA champion Cameron Burrell (USA) and Tyquendo Tracey (JAM), the latter having shown he can compete with the world’s best on the back of a 10.03 personal best for victory at the Athletics World Cup presented by Müller before going even faster in the same stadium a week later, running his quickest ever time with 9.96 at the Müller Anniversary Games.

On the field assembled so far for the 100m, 9.88 man Lyles added:

“Having the top tier guys race off against each other is what makes exciting races; it’s what people want to see. I’m glad everyone is coming to Birmingham looking to post fast times against the best.”

“There are maybe a couple of guys that I haven’t raced against, but I’ve had the pleasure of watching them race and truthfully going in, it makes me feel confident that we have all these athletes who are becoming big names and starting to run fast times, face off against each other. Birmingham should be in for a real treat”

See the biggest stars at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on 18 August; for tickets visit: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/muller-grand-prix-birmingham/