Tokyo
AP
—
Noah Lyles pulled forward of Kenny Bednarek heading into the straightaway then held him off down the stretch to seize his fourth title in a much-awaited 200 meters on the world championships Friday evening.
Lyles completed in 19.52 seconds for a .06-second margin over Bednarek, who led the ultimate on the midway level, fell behind by a couple of steps however was closing the hole over the ultimate footsteps.
Minutes later, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden accomplished the primary girls’s 100-200 double at worlds since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013, profitable in 21.68 seconds — a .46-second margin over shock silver medalist Amy Hunt of Britain.
Lyles matched Usain Bolt with 4 200 titles on the world championships. Instead of exchanging glares and shoves with Bednarek — the way it happened at US nationals final month — Lyles raised up 4 fingers and mentioned “That’s four, baby,” into the digital camera.
Bryan Levell of Jamaica completed third and Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo was fourth.
Rai Benjamin captured the 400-meter hurdles on the most effective day of the championships for the United States, which has 10 golds and 16 total with two days left within the meet.
Lyles received the featured race of the evening, one which’s been within the making for the final seven weeks – or 4 years – relying the way you have a look at it.
In 2021, Lyles was struggling after months in a Covid-19 lockdown and got here to Tokyo admittedly depressed. Running in a near-empty stadium, he received a bronze medal within the 200 and saved it away, utilizing it as gas for what was to come back.
More lately, there was his victory at nationals, punctuated by a stare-down of Bednarek, then Bednarek’s shoving Lyles as they crossed the end line. In between all that, Tebogo received the Paris Olympics in a race Lyles ran with Covid-19.
All that led the runners to the road on a cool evening in Tokyo.
Lyles didn’t begin completely however by no means panicked. He caught Bednarek, opened a two-step lead on him with about 50 meters left, then held on and calmly thrust 4 fingers within the air – one for every title in a string that started six years in the past in Qatar.