Lyles wins the U.S. trials event this year with the fastest 200-meter time in history
Noah Lyles turned to face Kenny Bednarek as the sprint competitors crossed the finish line after he swept past Bednarek to win a fierce 200-meter race in a world-record time on Sunday at the USA Track and Field Championships.
Lyles, the event’s three-time world champion, fell behind coming around the turn but charged ahead to cross in 19.63 seconds, the quickest time this season, making a major statement ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo next month.
After crossing the finish line in 19.67, Bednarek, the winner of Friday’s 100-meter race, pushed Lyles in the back. Lyles raised his arms in a furious turn, and after exchanging words, they shook hands.
This season, Lyles has been sidelined by an ankle ailment. “It was a pretty difficult championship,” he added. “I have been worn out. It’s been difficult to come out here when you’re unwell.”
Since he was already the defending champion and got a bye in the 100 and 200 meters, Lyles didn’t need to compete in Eugene, Oregon, to earn a spot in Tokyo.
Their NBC interview on the sidelines revealed their rage. “I expect a call if you have a problem,” Bednarek stated. In response, Lyles said: “You know what, you’re right… Let’s discuss after this.
“I’m not going to say it out here, but we got something to do and talk about,” Bednarek responded when asked about the shove and look.
The first woman to win both the 100- and 200-meter titles since 2003 was Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who won the women’s 200-meter race. Gabby Thomas, the 200-meter Olympic winner, needed a photo finish to place in the top three and earn a ticket to the world competition.
Thomas had a late effort to finish tied with Brittany Brown in 22.20, while Anavia Battle raced 22.13 for second place. Jefferson-Wooden led from the start and finished in 21.84. Thomas beat Brown by a tenth of a second to secure the final berth on the world squad in a picture finish.
Sha’Carri Richardson was absent from the final after finishing fourth in her semi-final and not making it further.
Richardson withdrew from the 100-meter semifinals in the U.S. trials earlier this week after being arrested for domestic abuse at a Seattle airport; but, as the current world champion, he is assured of a place in the 100-meter event in Tokyo.
Donavan Brazier won the men’s 800m to mark his victorious comeback after over three years away. The 2019 world champion, who has been injured for much of the past three years, finished in 1:42.16, and Cooper Lutkenhaus, a high school student, broke the world under-18 record with a time of 1:42.27.
“I always pictured this happening, but I don’t know if it would come true,” Brazier said to NBC.
In the women’s 800-meter crossing, Roisin Willis, this year’s NCAA champion, unexpectedly won in 1:59.26 after making a late charge to the front.
After finishing third in the 1500m, where he won gold at the Olympics in Paris, Cole Hocker raced a spectacular last lap to win the men’s 5,000m the next day.
The women’s pole vault champion, Sandi Morris, a three-time world silver winner, cleared 4.83 meters.
The fifth-fastest qualifier in the semifinals, Paris Olympic winner Grant Holloway, chose not to run the final since he has a bye to Tokyo, where he will be vying for his fourth world outdoor title, but Ja’Kobe Tharp won a 110-meter hurdles competition.
