Tokyo (AFP) – Noah Lyles’ bid to match Usain Bolt’s record of four consecutive world 200 metres titles got off to a steady start as the American safely negotiated his heat on Wednesday. Lyles claimed bronze in Sunday’s 100m in Tokyo and immediately turned his attention to the 200m, which he called his “bread and butter.” The American, who tops the 2025 world list with the 19.63sec he set at the US trials, won his heat in 19.99sec to lead a clutch of favourites through to Thursday’s semi-finals, with the final scheduled for Friday.
“The body is feeling good and definitely waking up,” said Lyles. “The goal here was to blast through the first 100m and I got that done. Zharnel (Hughes) was showing he was ready to run, too. I knew I had the race under control and decided not to push too much because I still have two more runs. When I get to the final I don’t know. I guess we will have to see.”
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Australia’s 17-year-old sensation Gout Gout also went through, clocking 20.23sec in his senior international debut to finish third in his heat, won by Jamaican Bryan Levell in an impressive 19.84sec.
**- Big dogs -**
Gout Gout, who has already set an Oceanian record of 20.02sec this season, was made to work to seal the final automatic qualifying spot in his heat. “It’s great to be out here competing on the world stage so I’m just happy to be here and I can’t wait for the semi,” said Gout Gout, often compared to Jamaican legend Bolt for his similar age group performances. “It’s a great experience for me, running against the big dogs, it’s great to be out here and just excited for more,” he added.
Other big names progressing included Botswana’s 22-year-old Letsile Tebogo, who claimed the Olympic title in Paris last year when Lyles finished third. Tebogo, who false-started in the men’s 100m final here, won his heat in 20.18sec. American Kenny Bednarek also won his outing, clocking 19.98sec. Bednarek is second on the year’s world list with 19.67sec – the time he clocked in following Lyles home at the US trials.
On that occasion, he shoved Lyles in the back for what he called unsportsmanlike behaviour when he stared him down over the finish line. “I ran the bend well, got the lead,” said Bednarek. “I am confident. I am in really good shape. I don’t do much trash talking but it’s definitely intense in the 200m, that’s all I am going to say about it. It’s a dog fight out there. The medal is not going to be given to me. I have to work for it. I know I have it in me. This is the best I have ever felt.”
Bednarek, who finished fourth in the men’s 100m, said he had had “two little hiccups in that race which put me out of contention.” “But I am ready for the 200m now.” Also going through was South Africa’s 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk. “I don’t know what to expect from the next round,” said the 2016 Olympic 400m champion, who has been beset by injuries in the years since that triumph in Rio. “I am really taking it day by day. I was happy to see my son on the tribune after the finish and throw him my kit.”
Zimbabwe’s Tapiwa Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, who both made the Olympic final last year, also qualified along with Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando and Anguilla-born Briton Hughes.
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