Lyles clocks world's fastest 200m this year in heated U.S. trials race
FILE PHOTO: London Stadium, London, Britain - July 19, 2025 Lyles Noah of the U.S. reacts after the Men's 100m final Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo
Noah Lyles surged past Kenny Bednarek to win a heated 200-metre race in a world-leading time at the USA Track and Field Championships on Sunday, turning to stare down Bednarek as the sprint rivals crossed the finish line.
Lyles, the three-times world champion in the event, trailed coming off the bend but stormed to the front to cross in 19.63 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season in a huge statement ahead of next month's World Championships in Tokyo.
Bednarek, winner of Friday's 100m, finished in 19.67, and then shoved Lyles in the back after they crossed. Lyles turned angrily with arms raised before the two exchanged words and finally shook hands.
"It was a pretty difficult championship," said Lyles, who has been hampered with an ankle injury this season. "I've been tired. It's been rough, coming out here when you're not 100 percent."
Lyles had not needed to compete in Eugene, Oregon to qualify for Tokyo, as he already had a bye in both the 100m and 200m as the reigning champion.
Their anger spilled into their trackside NBC interview. "If you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said. Lyles replied: "You know what, you're right... Let's talk after this."
Asked about the look and shove, Bednarek said: "I'm not going to say it out here, but we got something to do and talk about."
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA
Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am
Business Are Gen Z-ers in Singapore worried about generative AI coming for their jobs?
Multimedia How Singapore is rethinking nature in the city
Singapore The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a 'last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline
Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran
World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price
World Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes, opens humanitarian corridors
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women's 200m to become the first woman to sweep the 100m and 200m titles since 2003, while 200m Olympic champion Gabby Thomas needed a photo finish to sneak into the top-three spots for a world championship ticket.
Jefferson-Wooden led from the gun to finish in 21.84, while Anavia Battle ran 22.13 for second and Thomas had a late surge to finish tied with Brittany Brown in 22.20. A photo finish had Thomas beating Brown for the last spot on the world team by one-thousandth of a second.
The final was missing Sha'Carri Richardson, who finished fourth in her semi-final and failed to advance.
Richardson, who was arrested earlier this week for domestic violence at a Seattle Airport, withdrew from the 100m semis earlier at the U.S. trials, but is guaranteed a spot in the 100m in Tokyo as the reigning world champion.
Donavan Brazier announced his triumphant return after nearly three years away with victory in the men's 800m. The 2019 world champion, who spent much of the last three years injured, crossed in 1:42.16, while high school student Cooper Lutkenhaus shattered the world under-18 record with his 1:42.27 clocking.
"I always pictured this happening, but I don't know if it would come true," Brazier told NBC.
This year's NCAA champion Roisin Willis was the surprise winner in the women's 800m crossing in 1:59.26 after a late surge to the front.
Cole Hocker ran a sizzling final lap to win the men's 5,000m a day after racing to bronze in the 1500m, the event in which he won gold at the Paris Olympics.
Three-times world silver medallist Sandi Morris cleared 4.83m to win the women's pole vault.
Ja'Kobe Tharp won a 110m hurdles race missing Paris Olympic champion Grant Holloway, who was the fifth fastest qualifier in the semis but elected not to run the final since he has a bye for Tokyo, where he will be aiming for his fourth world outdoor title. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
African champions Pyramids begin title defence in first round
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox CAPE TOWN - New African champions Pyramids of Egypt will begin the defence of their Champions League crown in the first round next month, but the team they beat in last season's final have been granted a bye into the second round. South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns lost 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids in the final last season, but because of a higher ranking are one of only two clubs given passage into the second round of this season's competition. The other is Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won the Champions League a record 12 times and appeared in five of the last six finals, winning four of them. A record number of 62 entries for the Champions League means only two clubs do not have to compete in the first round, which will be over two legs on the weekends of September 19-21 and September 26–28. Two rounds of knockout matches are played to determine the 16 teams who go into the league phase, which will get underway in late November. In the draw conducted in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday, Pyramids were pitted against APR FC from Rwanda in the first round, playing the return leg at home in Cairo, and should they progress, will take on the winners of the tie between Ethiopia Medhin or Mlandege from Zanzibar. There are a record 58 entrants in the African Confederation Cup, spurred on by a $100,000 grant for each participant to help with costs of competing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef Singapore E-bike rider arrested for rash act causing hurt after accident with pedestrian in Toa Payoh Singapore Man arrested for allegedly stealing from business class passenger on flight to Singapore Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre World Three wounded in shooting in New York's Times Square Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok Last season, each club in both continental club competitions received a $50,000 grant, which was the first time financial assistance had been offered by the Confederation of African Football. Competing in African club competitions can be financially draining because of the high travel costs. In the Confederation Cup draw, which was also conducted on Saturday, past winners Zamalek of Egypt and USM Alger were handed byes into the second round, but Tunisia's Etoile Sahel, another previous victor, start in the first round against Sudan's Al Ahli Madani. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Southampton late show spoils Wrexham's dream return
SOUTHAMPTON, England - Southampton spoiled a fairytale return by Wrexham to England's second tier as two late goals snatched a 2-1 home win on Saturday and ruined what looked like a Hollywood script written by the Welsh club's celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Josh Windass put Wrexham ahead with a 22nd-minute penalty, and they looked like enjoying a dream comeback to the Championship after 43 years until Ryan Manning levelled in the 90th minute and Jack Stephens got the winner deep in added time. Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, are one of the favourites for promotion, but they were almost stunned by a Wrexham side back at this level for the first time since 1982 after an unprecedented three consecutive promotions. Wrexham may have been brought back down to earth by the loss after their meteoric rise since Reynolds and McElhenney took over in 2021, but they showed they may have what it takes to cause plenty of problems to the big clubs this season. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
New Zealand crush Zimbabwe by record innings & 359 runs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox New Zealand completed their biggest win in test cricket with a crushing innings and 359-run victory over Zimbabwe to clinch the series 2-0 in Bulawayo on Saturday. Zimbabwe, who suffered their heaviest test defeat, were bowled out for 117 after New Zealand declared overnight on 601-3 following centuries by Devon Conway (153), Rachin Ravindra (165 not out) and Henry Nicholls (150 not out). Seamer Zakary Foulkes completed figures of 5-37 to go with 4-38 in their first innings, the best by a New Zealander on debut. Nick Welch put up lone resistance for the home side with an unbeaten 47 and captain Craig Ervine (17) was the only other player to get into double figures. Extras (16) was the third highest scorer. "It's been a great series," New Zealand seamer Matt Henry said. "I think as a group we knew that we needed to capitalise on the new ball and ask questions early. "The skillset we have as a group, we can complement each other. The way the guys are coming in and backing their skillset, it's awesome to see." Trailing by 476 on their first innings, it was always going to be a tall order for Zimbabwe to make their visitors bat again, but they would have hoped their second innings lasted longer than 28.1 overs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef World Three wounded in shooting in New York's Times Square Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok World Trump and Putin to meet on Aug 15 in Alaska Life The crypto bros are back: 'The hubris never really left' Having lost Brian Bennett (0) in the first over, they were quickly in trouble as Brendan Taylor (7), back from a three-and-a-half year ICC suspension, followed him back to the pavilion with Henry (2-16) removing both openers. When experienced batter Sikandar Raza (4) fell, the score was 54-5 and Foulkes ran through the tail. "It's obviously been disappointing, specially the way we finished today," Ervine said. "But we had a really tough, high-skilled opposition and it shows where we stand as a team in the test circuit." REUTERS
