GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Olympic champion Noah Lyles captured the men’s 300 meters, holding off a field of primarily collegiate competitors in his season opener at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at the Alachua County Sports Complex at Celebration Pointe on Friday (16).
Lyles, running out of heat one, posted the fastest time across all five heats. The sprint star clocked 32.60 seconds to win the title but fell just short of the facility record of 32.58, set in 2023 by Bahamian Steven Gardiner. The 28-year-old 2024 Olympic 100-meter champion and eight-time world champion was running his first 300 meters indoors since 2017, when he posted the world best and American record of 31.87 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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The University of Miami placed three athletes in the top 10. Ace Malone won heat five in 32.70 to finish second overall, while his teammate George Franks took third place overall with a time of 32.88 after winning heat three.
Sean Watkins finished seventh in 33.86, and Robert Joseph took 10th in 35.05. South Florida’s Davien Worrels ran 34.31 for eighth place, while Florida A&M’s Jayden Phillips posted 34.41 for ninth.
Adidas athlete Cheickna Traore, who was second behind Lyles in heat one, finished fifth overall with a time of 33.16 seconds.
Elsewhere, Florida’s Jayden Horton-Mims won heat two in 32.96 for fourth place overall, teammate Miami’s Malique Smith-Band finished sixth in 33.28, while South Florida’s Davien Worrels ran 34.31 for eighth place.
Lyles has won eight world championship titles, including the 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay in 2019, the 200 meters in 2022, and the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100-meter relay in 2023. He added the 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay titles in 2025.
Jimmy Carnes Invitational 300m Men’s 300 Meters
- Noah Lyles, Adidas, 32.60
- Ace Malone, Miami (Fla.), 32.70
- George Franks, Miami (Fla.), 32.88
- Jayden Horton-Mims, Florida, 32.96
- Cheickna Traore, Adidas, 33.16
- Malique Smith-Band, Florida, 33.28
- Sean Watkins, Miami (Fla.), 33.86
- Davien Worrels, South Florida, 34.31
- Jayden Phillips, Florida A&M, 34.41
- Robert Joseph, Miami (Fla.), 35.05
