"Let me get ready for the Olympics"- Quincy Hall defends himself following Noah Lyles' 4x400m relay snub

By Marie Amani

Modified Jul 20, 2024 02:22 GMT

Quincy Hall has come out in defense of his 400m prowess after Noah Lyles did not include him in his 4x400m relay team at the Olympics.

In an interview on the Track World News podcast, Noah Lyles made demeaning remarks on Quincy Hall, noting that he would not include his compatriot in the Team USA men’s 4x400m relay to the Olympic Games in Paris.

The three-time world 200m champion opted for Chris Bailey to start. He placed himself in the second leg while picking Michael Norman for the third. Lyles added that he would select Rai Benjamin in the anchor leg.

Asked why he would not include Quincy Hall in the team, the 27-year-old said that the current U.S. champion did not have the best starting skills and that using him in the opeing leg would be a "waste of talent".

"The only reason I wouldn’t use the current U.S. champion is because I don’t think he would be a starter. I feel like using him on the first leg would just be almost like a waste to his talent. I just don’t see him getting his full capability out of the first leg," Lyles said.

Some fans supported Lyles, noting that he did not mean to offend Quincy Hall. However, the 25-year-old had a response for them and anyone defending his compatriot's statement.

Hall said that he was in the first leg at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

"Y’all trying to defend what he (Noah Lyles) said…I didn’t say the guy dissed me, I said by him saying I’m too good to be first leg but I was first leg last year bro. What y’all saying, I popped it off last year. You think I don’t deserve a spot you want my spot," Hall said in a video shared on his X.

"Y’all go to the media and be scared of competition, we don’t do that bro, we do what we have to do. He is Noah Lyles and he probably doesn’t care what I’m saying but we can run a 400m and make money," he added.

Quincy Hall further captioned the video:

"For the folk who mad saying he didn’t diss me or I’m overthinking y’all can miss me with all that. I’m rapped out about the situation my blocks still ready but if we ain’t doing it that’s cool to but let me get ready for the Olympics."

Quincy Hall in the form of his life after stunning world lead at Monaco Diamond League

Hall at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 (Source: Getty Images)

Following his victory at the U.S. Olympic trials, Quincy Hall continued his winning streak with a stunning victory at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco.

Hall clocked a new personal best and world-leading time of 43.80 to comfortably win the hotly contested race. Vernon Norwood finished second in 44.34 as Lythe Pillay of South Africa completed the podium in 44.58.

At the U.S. Olympic trials, Quincy Hall punched his ticket to the Paris Olympic Games with a 44.17 seconds win. He will be joined by Michael Norman and Chris Bailey who finished second and third in respective times of 44.41 and 44.42.