Lightning Lyles wins 200m, leads second sprint sweep for US men at
worlds
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 [July 22, 2022] By
Amy Tennery
EUGENE, Ore. (Reuters) -Noah Lyles produced a dominating performance
to retain his 200 metres title in 19.31 seconds at the World
Championships on Thursday, becoming the third-fastest athlete of all
time over the distance and leading a second American sprint podium
sweep.
Tokyo bronze medallist Lyles led at the halfway point and exploded
through the finish, with compatriots Kenny Bednarek (19.77) and
18-year-old Erriyon Knighton (19.80) battling out of the turn and
down the straight for silver and bronze.
Lyles has not been satisfied with how quickly he has been getting
out of the blocks in some of his races but said the first few metres
on Thursday was "the start of my life".
"I was telling (Knighton) and Kenny, I was like, 'I was glad y'all
was behind me because y'all put the fear of God into my start,'"
said Lyles.
He knew he had a clear path to the top of the podium when he did not
feel Knighton behind him off the turn.
"After that (turn) I was like, 'Okay, I'm racing myself. Let's go,'
which was my goal," he told reporters. "But I also had in the back
of the head, in case he did try to pull up on me, I was going to be
ready for it."
Lyles ripped open his shirt after the finish as the home crowd in
Eugene, Oregon, roared with approval, and offered an embrace to
rival Knighton.
"Today is my day - I finally got to do what I dreamed of," he said
on track after breaking four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson's
national record, which had stood since 1996. "I got my whole family
here."
Lyles' time was initially displayed as 19.32, which would have tied
Johnson's record. However, it was then updated to an official 19.31
when his back was turned, with the 25-year-old clearly stunned when
he noticed the new figure on the clock.
Johnson later approached him to congratulate him on breaking the
mark.
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Gold medallist Noah Lyles of the U.S. celebrates after winning the
men's 200 metres final alongside silver medallist Kenneth Bednarek
of the U.S. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
He was so wrapped up in the moment that Lyles later
told reporters he was initially unaware of his margin of victory -
or even which medals his team mates got.
"I didn't know Erriyon got third until we walked up on the podium,"
said Lyles.
Lyles hopped on the back of World Championships mascot Legend and
rode across the track after the podium ceremony inside Hayward Field
to the delight of the fans.
Thursday's race was the second 1-2-3 for U.S. men in Eugene after
Fred Kerley, Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell swept the 100m. It is
the first time any country has swept the two men's sprints in the
same year at the worlds.
It capped a remarkable turnaround from the Tokyo Olympics a year ago
when the American men left without any individual track golds.
Lyles said he had undergone a transformation as well, re-learning
how to love the sport after going through Tokyo with "a huge target"
on his back.
"Every time I got on the track this year - I knew I wasn't that same
person anymore," he said. "It was like I found my groove, I was
enjoying track again. I was happy every day just to be running."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Eugene, OregonEditing by Peter
Rutherford)
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