Noah Lyles Beat in 200 Semis and Goes to Medical, Holloway Cruises, Dos Santos Struggles

While most of the attention Wednesday on the track rightfully went to the 400m final won by Quincy Hall and the gutsy run for Silver by Kenneth Rooks in the steeple, there were also semis of the men’s 110 hurdles, the men’s 200 and the womens’ 400. Some takeaways below.

110 Hurdles: Holloway Reminds World Why He Is Favorite 

The one thing missing from Grant Holloway’s resume is an Olympic title. Today in the semifinals he reminded the world why he is the favorite to win gold and fill that hole on his resume, dominating his heat and running 12.98, which was .11 quicker than anyone else in qualifying. Since taking silver at the Olympics in 2021 he has been nearly perfect, rarely losing and winning the last four world championships between indoors and outdoors. Holloway is undefeated in his 2024 season that includes a world indoor title over the 60 hurdles. Now one race stands between him and Olympic gold.

110 hurdles final will be a USA v Jamaica battle

The USA and Jamaica have totally dominated this event across the last three global championships, with the US taking five medals (two gold) and Jamaica three (one gold). It looks to be a similar story in 2024 as 75% of the final is from one of the two countries.

Hansle Parchment is the reigning Olympic champ, and Hansle Parchment knows how to beat Holloway, but based on the semis, the biggest threat may be 24-year-old Orlando Bennett, who is peaking at the right time. Bennett ran a pb of 13.18 to take 2nd at the Jamaican trials and another pb of 13.09 to win his semi tonight. But the way Holloway is running, he will have to run even faster than that for gold.

Holloway will be joined in the final by fellow Americans Daniel Roberts (Worlds bronze last year) and Freddie Crittenden, who successfully navigated the repechage round to make the final.

400 Hurdles: Dos Santos Almost Blows Medal Chance as Benjamin and Warholm Cruise

It was almost a disaster for medal contender Alison Dos Santos as he had to hold his breath for two heats to earn a small q. Seemingly unaware during the race that only two men automatically qualified for the final, Dos Santos allowed Frenchman Clement Ducos to pass him over the final 100, putting him in a precarious position. Luckily for Dos Santos, his 47.95 would hold up through the next two heats and end up being the quickest non-automatic qualifying time and the fourth fastest time overall.

This final is shaping up to be just as epic as the Tokyo Olympic final with Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin easing through their respective semi final heats. Warholm was happy with the effort as he wanted to do just enough to advance to the final’s, exerting as little energy as possible. Both Warholm and Benjamin eased up well before the line to run 47.67 and 47.85, respectively. 

Men’s 200 Kenny Bednarek Qualifies in Style as Lyles Goes to Medical

Kenny Bednarek looks poised to run for gold. The defending silver medalist pulled away in his heat and eased across the line in 20.00. It’s been a very long time since Noah Lyles has been beaten down the homestretch, but Letsile Tebogo had no trouble holding him off, clocking 19.96 to Lyles 20.08. Erriyon Knighton is still knocking off the rust from his provisional suspension earlier this year, but the 20-year-old made quick work of the last semifinal alongside Joseph Fahnbulleh. The defending Olympic champion, Andre De Grasse finished third in the first semifinal and had to sweat out the final two semis unfolded; ultimately, he would fail to qualify on time. 

Lyles is beaten, then skips mixed zone to be taken to medical

Tonight was the first time in three years – since the 2021 Olympic final – that Noah Lyles did not cross the finish line first in a 200m race. Of course, it was only a semifinal and Lyles still qualified automatically. But it is worth noting that ahead of that defeat in Tokyo, Lyles was also beaten in his semi (he eased up and finished 3rd) and had to run the final from lane 3 while nursing a knee injury. (Lyles is in lane 5 for tomorrow’s semi which is not too bad).

Today, he did not ease up, but he did not catch Tebogo in the final straight after the Botswanan led off the turn. Then after the race, we were told Lyles would not stop in the mixed zone as he was being taken to medical. 

A cause for concern? Hard to say given we received no details on the reason he went to medical (and it is also worth noting that Lyles’ girlfriend Junelle Bromfield was about to race in the women’s 400 semis).

Let’s give some props: Zimbabwe puts two in 200 Final 

There are some countries that you expect to pack sprint finals, the U.S, Jamaica, Britain.

One of the countries that you would not think of however is Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has never had a finalist at the Olympics over the half-lap distance, but this year, they’ll have two shots at the podium. Both Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu have qualified for the final. Makarawu who is ranked 24th in the world has had a great 2024 that has included a 19.93 national record that he ran at Texas Tech back in April. He qualified for Worlds back in 2023 but was knocked out in the first round. His countrymen Makanakaishe Charamba who is ranked 30th in the world is a product of the NCAA system and ran for Auburn this year where he was 5th at NCAA’s. He flashed his potential at the NCAA regional meet where he ran a 19.95. He  is trending in the right direction after having a rough post-NCAA stretch where he failed to break 20.4 over two races. 

Women’s 400: Salwa Eid Naser Is Back

Salwa Eid Naser returned to competition last year after being suspended for three years due to multiple whereabouts failures. Although the third-fastest woman of all-time only broke 50 seconds twice last year, she has done so in each of her last five races this year. Now in Paris, she dominated Rhasidat Adeleke in her semifinal, running 49.05. It seems as though she is back to 2019 form, a year in which she won the world title. 

U.S. Disappoints Putting just One in 400 Final 

The last three Olympics the U.S. has put either two or three women in the Olympic final. In 2024 they will have one lone qualifier, Alexis Holmes, who had the 7th quickest time in qualifying. The last four Olympics the U.S. has had a medalist in the event, something that now looks unlikely with only Holmes in the final. 

The NCAA Season Has Taken It’s Toll

The rigor and length of the NCAA season took it’s toll on Aaliyah Butler and Ella Onojuvwevwo. But, the same wasn’t the case for Amber Anning; the Arkansas stud who represents Great Britain showed no signs of struggle in qualifying for the Olympic final.