Watch: Noah Lyles Shoved By Kenny Bednarek After Winning 200 Meters At US Nationals
Noah Lyles delivered the day's most significant performance on the track, overtaking Kenny Bednarek for the win and then taunting him. Bednarek responded with a two-handed shove after the finish line, accompanied by heated words and a challenge for a rematch that can't come soon enough.
Sunday's U.S. track championships turned physical when Lyles and Bednarek engaged in a shoving and shouting match as they finished the hotly contested 200-meter final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
'Like I've said before, Noah's going be Noah," Bednarek remarked. 'If he wants to stare me down, that's fine."
Lyles surpassed Bednarek and finished in 19.63 seconds for a .04-second victory, setting up a rematch at the world championships on September 19 in Tokyo.
The real drama unfolded after the finish line. There was jawing, shoving, and Lyles turning around, backpedaling, extending his arms, and bouncing like a boxer before throwing more choice words at Bednarek.
Their confrontation spilled into what is usually a celebratory NBC winner's interview.
'If you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said, as the network's Lewis Johnson moved the mic between them.
Although they shook hands during the tense post-race moment, Bednarek remained fired up well after leaving the track.
'The summary is, don't do that to me," Bednarek said. 'I don't do any of that stuff. It's not good character right there. That's pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I've got to give him props. He was the better man today."
Lyles' victory was expected, being the three-time defending world champion who must overcome Bednarek to make it four in Tokyo. Bednarek was asked what Lyles said as he gloated after securing his fifth national title at his favourite distance.
'What he said didn't matter, it's just what he did," Bednarek stated. 'Unsportsmanlike (expletive) and I don't deal with that. It's a respect factor. He's fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that's all I can say. Next time we line up, I'm going to win. That's all that matters."
When asked about his role in the conflict, Lyles was reserved: 'On coach's orders, no comment."
Track desperately needs some energy in the post-Olympic year and post-Usain Bolt era. Who better to provide it than Lyles, the sport's most engaging character this side of Sha'Carri Richardson, who was again in off-the-track headlines this weekend.
Up to now, track media and the athletes themselves have tried to generate rivalries between Lyles and Erriyon Knighton (fizzled), or Lyles and Letsile Tebogo (beat him in the Olympics last year) or, of course, between Lyles and NFL receiver Tyreek Hill (supposed grudge match never took place).
It turns out, they probably should have looked at the lane next to him. Bednarek has won silver and beaten Lyles the last two times they've lined up in the 200 at the Olympics, even though Lyles faced issues at both—mental health in Tokyo, and COVID in Paris.
Bednarek referenced some long-simmering issues between them.
'Just some personal stuff we've got to handle," he said.
But when asked for more details about the burgeoning rivalry, Lyles remained focused on his challenging year after an April injury kept him out of spikes until June.
'If they ain't gonna beat me now, they ain't gonna beat me ever," Lyles said.
Bednarek isn't so sure.
The 200 final was Bednarek's fifth race of the week, including three heats of the 100 meters, where he won the final Friday. Lyles, who has an automatic spot at worlds in that event as the defending champion, only ran one heat of the 100.
'We'll go fresh and we'll see what happens," Bednarek said. 'Because I'm very confident I can beat him. That's all I can say."
Other Major Highlights
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 200 in a personal-best time of 21.84 seconds, while Olympic champion Gabby Thomas had to wait a few anxious moments to see if she earned a spot on the world team. She did, as her name popped up in third place.
It was a winning weekend for Jefferson-Wooden, who also captured the 100 on Friday. She will be joined in the 100 at worlds by Richardson, who has an automatic spot as the defending champion. Richardson didn't advance to the final in the 200.
The women's 400 hurdles was wide open with Olympic champion and world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone electing to focus on the open 400 (she won the event Saturday). Dalilah Muhammad, 35, took control and cruised to the win.
One of the afternoon's most exciting finishes was in the men's 800 meters, where 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier used a strong kick to hold off 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus and Bryce Hoppel.
In the 5,000 meters, Shelby Houlihan held off Elise Cranny by less than a second to win the title. Houlihan returned to the track this year after serving a four-year doping ban. The former U.S. record holder in the 5,000 tested positive after eating a burrito she claimed was tainted with a performance-enhancing drug.
With AP Inputs
About the Author
Feroz Khan
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More
News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
Kenny Bednarek Noah Lyles
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
August 04, 2025, 08:57 IST
News sports Watch: Noah Lyles Shoved By Kenny Bednarek After Winning 200 Meters At US Nationals
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Wrestling World Championship Trials: Sujeet Kalkal brings sharp counter-attacking speed to stacked 65kg field ahead of Worlds
Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal raced to an early lead against his compatriot Vishal Kaliraman in the men's freestyle 65 kg wrestling trials for the World Championships on Monday. However, Vishal applied pressure in the second period. He tried to execute a takedown, but Sujeet expertly maneuvered like a trick master and countered him with a takedown of his own, resulting in him getting the decisive lead. All the drama was unfolding at the SAI Center in Lucknow as Sujeet booked his berth for a maiden World Championships appearance. 'Finally, I will be playing at the Senior World Championships. It has been a long-overdue dream for me,' he told The Indian Express on the sidelines of the trials. While it will be his maiden appearance, the Bhiwani wrestler will be carrying India's hopes in a weight category where the nation has achieved considerable success. Growing up, he would watch videos of Sushil Kumar (then in 66 kg) and Bajrang Punia, and now, he has the responsibility of carrying their legacy forward in that sharply coveted weight division. '65 kg has been our strong area for a very long time, and I am aware that all eyes will be on me during the World Championships,' said Sujeet. The 65-66kg category in the men's freestyle wrestling has been one of India's strongest weight divisions in freestyle world wrestling. When it was 66 kg, Sushil Kumar dominated the category, winning two Olympic medals (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012) and becoming World Champion in 2010. After United World Wrestling rebranded it in 2014, Bajrang Punia made it his hunting ground with three World Championships medals (silver in 2018 and bronze in 2019 and 2022) and Olympic bronze in Tokyo. However, with Punia banned due to a whereabouts doping failure, India's search for a successor in the 65 kg seems to have ended with the emergence of Sujeet. His coach, Kuldeep Singh, believes that Sujeet is made to perform in the 65 kg category. 'I will tell you this boy has immense wrestling sense. I haven't seen many wrestlers who use their brains the way he does. He has got the ability to strategize mid-game and execute them,' Kuldeep told The Indian Express. The 22-year-old is having a superb 2025 season with medals at both junior and senior levels after the heartbreak of not qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics due to unfortunate circumstances. He missed a connecting flight to Amman, where the last Olympic qualifiers were held, from Dubai due to unexpected floods in the UAE capital city. 'It was indeed a heartbreaking moment for me. But it was unfortunate and not in my control. Actually, the heartbreak of not qualifying for the Paris Olympics became my motivation. When I returned to India without the ticket to Paris, I just wanted to let everything out on the mat,' said Sujeet. Did he let everything out on the mat? Yes, the results of the season show that he has stayed true to his words. While the senior Asian Championships in 2025 ended early for him due to an injury during the quarters, he clinched the U23 Asian title, winning all matches by technical superiority. He took it a notch above in the Budapest Ranking series last month as he won the gold medal, defeating Olympic bronze medallist Islam Dudaev of Albania, Vazgen Tevanyan of Armenia, and four-time European medallist Ali Rahimzadeh of Azerbaijan, conceding just two points in four games. 'Playing in Budapest was a great experience cause all the wrestlers I defeated are very technically sound. The competition was great and it helped me understand how to counter different situations on a mat during the bout,' quipped Sujeet. What caught everyone's eye during Sujeet's title-winning run at Budapest was the points he scored purely by attacking. He scored 33 points in a very strong field, and similarly at the U23 Asian Championships, he scored 52 points in five games. At the trials, Sujeet turned four attacks from his opponents into a counterattack, eventually taking the points. While he always had a decent defence, the art of countering when an opponent is on the move makes him more lethal. Post his Paris heartbreak, Sujeet, along with his coach Kuldeep Singh, has worked on counter-attacks and making him more powerful. 'We have worked on his strength training. Earlier, he was not able to reverse the attacks due to lack of power. As he is growing now, his strength is improving. With more strength, he is also defending well,' said Kuldeep, who trains Sujeet at the SAI Sonepat center. His father, Dayanand, who himself was a wrestler, explained why he was able to counterattack today. 'Right now, Sujeet is injury-free, barring stretched muscles. Since his body is moving fluidly, his speed works as the perfect weapon to counter whenever the opponent attacks. This is a new addition to his technique, which he was not doing last year,' he said. Though not built like a tank like Bajrang legendarily was, Sujeet tends to get going quicker with speed as his pivot. With the World Championships scheduled for 13th September this year in Zagreb, Sujeet will be one of India's biggest hopes, along with Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat in 57 kg. In 65 kg, Japanese Kotaro Kiyooka took gold at Paris, while Iranian Rahman Amouzad won silver. Dudaev had bronze alongwith Puerto Rican Sebastian Rivera. Rahimzadeh has stepped in for Tokyo silver medallist Haji Aliyev for Azerbaijan at Budapest. The category sees plenty of 70kg wrestlers step down to compete making it a power grapple. 'I am very confident of Sujeet doing well at the Worlds cause his performance at the Budapest Ranking Series is proof that he can take on the world. Hopefully, he keeps his form and delivers in Zagreb,' Kuldeep concluded. Whether Sujeet delivers or not, we will know in September, but for now, the legacy has a worthy successor.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Men don't belong in women sports': Donald Trump admin escalates attack on foreign trans athletes; restricts their sports visas
The Donald Trump administration is set to update its visa policies in an effort to bar transgender women from traveling to the United States to participate in women's sports. Terming it a "matter of safety", the US citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) said that it was an effort to ensure that only "female athletes" received visas to enter the States to participate in "women's sports". The statement doesn't mention the word transgender or trans, however, it does say "male" who "change their gender identity". 'Men do not belong in women's sports. USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women,' USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said. 'It's a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the US to participate in women's sports. The Trump Administration is standing up for the silent majority who've long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense," Matthew added. The updated policy impacts three visa categories designated for individuals with 'extraordinary ability' in fields such as science, the arts, education, business, or athletics. It also extends to national interest waivers, which permit applicants to bypass the labor certification process for green cards if they can demonstrate that their work benefits the national interest. The statement for the policy update clarified that the "USCIS considers the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women as a negative factor in determining whether the alien is among the small percentage at the very top of the field." "USCIS does not consider a male athlete who has gained acclaim in men's sports and seeks to compete in women's sports in the United States to be seeking to continue work in his area of extraordinary ability; male athletes seeking to enter the country to compete in women's sports do not substantially benefit the United States; and it is not in the national interest to the United States to waive the job offer and, thus, the labor certification requirement for male athletes whose proposed endeavor is to compete in women's sports," it added. This comes shortly after the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee banned trans women from competing in female sports. Only a few trans athletes have competed in past Olympics, including Laurel Hubbard, Alana Smith, and Quinn - the first nonbinary and trans athlete to win a medal.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cleveland Browns sign 6th QB Tyler Huntley amidst growing QB competition
(Image via Getty: Tyler Huntley) Deshaun Watson? Injured. Joe Flacco? Veteran. Kenny Pickett? Brought from the Super Bowl LIX winning team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Dillon Gabriel? Rookie. Shedeur Sanders? Rookie. And now enters–Tyler Huntley. The Cleveland Browns bring in a sixth quarterback to the already-full quarterback room. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reacted to this move, speaking for everyone, 'This is unbelievable for many reasons, most of all that all four were involved in practice today on some level.' Now, the question arises–which quarterbacks will be given up before the 2025 NFL season? But first– What is the quarterback rule? According to the quarterback rule–one is a starter, one is a backup, and a third QB is picked from the inactive list and allowed to dress for the game. Out of the six quarterbacks–only three will stay with the Cleveland Browns. Who's going to play? Only time will tell. For now, let's check out the Cleveland Browns' sixth quarterback! Tyler Huntley. Tyler Huntley enters a crowded Cleveland Browns QB room Tyler Huntley's NFL journey was full of ups and downs. The quarterback carries a history of three practice-squad appearances. The Baltimore Ravens picked him in the 2020 NFL Draft(when he went undrafted). He played for the Ravens till 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo In 2022, he even earned his first Pro Bowl selection. In March 2024, Huntley entered the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns–but within five months, he was released from their 53-man roster. In August 2024, he became a practice squad member for the Ravens. In September 2024, Huntley became a backup QB for the Miami Dolphins. Playing for the Dolphins last season, he garnered 86 of 133 passes for 829 yards, three TDs, three interceptions, 26 carries for 135 yards and two TDs. When their star signal caller, Tua Tagovailoa, was injured in Week 17, Huntley played against the Cleveland Browns. The Dolphins won against the Browns by a riveting score of 20-3! Huntley accumulated 225 passing yards, one passing TD, seven carries for 52 rushing yards, and one rushing TD. Why was Tyler Huntley brought to Cleveland Browns? Deshaun Watson suffered a second Achilles tendon tear, and his appearance in the 2025 season is doubtful Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring muscle on July 26–which stopped him from practising completely Dillon Gabriel is suffering from hamstring muscle tightness–he will be a limited participant in practice Shedeur Sanders suffered from soreness in his arm and throwing shoulder–he's getting treated Joe Flacco is healthy and remains at the top spot of the quarterback competition On August 4, Brian DeArdo of CBS Sports reported that Tyler Huntley would probably enter the practice squad(history of three practice-squad appearances). The chances of trading Shedeur Sanders seem slim. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel may become trade options for the Browns. Also Read: Caleb Williams misses every target in accuracy drill–fan declares, 'He's trash' | NFL News - Times of India Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
