Noah Lyles Comes From Behind, Runs US Olympic Trials Record of 19.53 as Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton Join Him on Olympic Team

Three-time world 200m champ Noah Lyles used a strong final 50 meters to come from behind and claim his fourth national title in the 200m at the 2024 US Olympic Trials on Saturday in Eugene, winning in a world lead and Trials record of 19.53. 2021 Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek took .08 off his PB to finish second in 19.59 while world silver medalist Erriyon Knighton made his second Olympic team in his first meet in three months following a provisional suspension that was lifted just 10 days ago, running 19.77. 2019 world 100m champ Christian Coleman was the odd man out yet again, finishing 4th in 19.89. Coleman ran 9.93 and 19.89 in Eugene but didn’t make the 100m or 200m teams.

Bednarek and the 60m world record holder Coleman were quick out of the blocks and running 1-2 in that order at 100m (10.26, 10.27) while Lyles, who had a sub-par start, had made his way up to third (10.31) while Knighton was just 6th (10.42). At 150m, Bednarek still led (14.81) with Lyles second (14.89) and Knighton third (14.99). But the last 50m was all Lyles as he powered past Bednarek to win as the pair separated from Knighton, who ended up a comfortable third.

Results

Final, Wind: +0.5

Noah Lyles did not panic

Noah Lyles has been adamant all season that he wants to make history and become the first man to win four gold medals on the track at the Olympics, vaulting himself into the conversation of being one of the best sprinters ever. While it remains to be seen if he’ll get to run a leg on one of the 4 x 400s, he has swept the 100 and 200 titles in the best sprinting nation in the world, is the reigning world champion in both events, and has the world lead in the 200 and a top five time in the 100.

Lyles said he was never nervous despite being behind Bednarek early as he knew that Bednarek would falter with 80 to go. Lyles added that he set up his season to not peak at the Trials, so only time will tell if he can attack Usain Bolt‘s 19.19 world record and win Olympic gold, the two things that Lyles says that he has left to do.

Despite tonight’s loss, Kenny Bednarek believes he can beat Lyles in the 200m in Paris

Bednarek had to settle for second place in a race that he led the majority of, but is still very confident in his fitness, saying that he tightened up at the end and that that was the only reason why Lyles won. Bednarek said that he had to ease up and listen to his body as to not pull something. Bednarek said he was happy with the first half of his race but needs to make adjustments on his second half. Bednarek said that he has Lyles next time and all that matters is beating him at the Olympics, while also saying that he is confident in a U.S sweep at the Olympics. Bednarek said that he is dangerous and that everyone should fear him as he tries to get his second Olympic medal.

Erriyon Knighton 3rd Place

In his first meet since having a provisional ban for trenbolone overturned, Knighton performed admirably, running 19.77 to take the final spot on Team USA. Knighton said that he was never worried about his positive test as he knew that he did nothing wrong. Knighton said that he was relived to make the team and said he was confident in his fitness as he had been training all year and thinks that he did well for his first meet back. This will be Knighton’s second Olympic team as he made the team back in 2021 where he finished fourth at the Games.

Talk about USAs on our world-famous fan forum / messageboard.

Running Discussion Forum – LetsRun.com