Noah Lyles stormed to a 9.88-second victory in the men’s 100-meter in Thursday’s Rome Diamond League event — his fastest time run since winning the 2024 Olympics title.In what was only his second race over the distance this season, Lyles showcased his outstanding top-end mechanics to close on the fast-starting Jordan Anthony, his training partner, and a bag his first Diamond League 100m win since July 2024.This victory is significant for Lyles, who struggled with a groin injury last season but recovered to star in the World Championships, winning 100m bronze plus 200m gold and 4x100m relay gold.In Rome on Thursday, the 28-year-old took down a field including Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Lamont Marcell Jacobs, plus 60m World Indoor champion Anthony, who had beaten him at U.S. indoors earlier this year.All those men were among the five who broke 10 seconds, with second-place Emmanuel Eseme setting a Cameroon national record by running 9.94s.Lyles won with daylight, producing the second-quickest time of 2026, with only Kayinsola Ajayi, the Nigerian of Auburn University, clocking faster (9.84s) this year.Lyles won with daylight over his rivals (Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)“I had a great finish,” Lyles said. “I can go again. Who want’s to go? I am not showing (up) anywhere to lose. I am here to win. Ten metres before the finish line I knew the race was over. I was thinking about how I was going to celebrate it.”