Tokyo (AFP) – Defending champion Noah Lyles, Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson, and Botswanan Letsile Tebogo all coasted through their heats at the world championships in Tokyo to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m. The next round of the blue riband event in the Japanese capital is scheduled for 11:45 GMT on Sunday, with the final set for 13:20 GMT.
Lyles, the Olympic 100m champion who is also a three-time defending world 200m champion, is the outspoken face of men’s sprinting, a self-proclaimed showman who undoubtedly brings in the crowds. Thompson, who won Olympic 100m silver just five-thousandths of a second behind Lyles in Paris, and Olympic 200m champion Tebogo prefer a quieter approach, but are equally as effective once they don their spikes.
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Lyles, who also won 200m bronze medals in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, was granted a vociferous welcome as the cameras relayed his face onto the giant screens at the National Stadium, but it wasn’t quite as loud as that for Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryu in the next lane. Under pressure from Jamaica’s fast-starting Ackeem Blake, Lyles eventually powered through for the heat win in 9.95 seconds, with Blake taking second in 10.07 seconds.
“I had a great start today but I had even better ones at practice. I know there is more in the tank,” said Lyles, who mentioned he was enjoying performing in front of the crowds that were totally absent when the Olympic track and field events took place in the Covid-hit 2020 Games. “It is great to be back in Tokyo. It is way better than last time,” he said. “This is the best form I have ever been in my life. I am bringing special things here. Running 9.95 in the first round is exactly what I wanted to warm up my body.”
Impressive Thompson
Thompson, who went sixth in the all-time list after running a world-leading 9.75 seconds this season and edged Lyles in the Silesia Diamond League, looked in impressive form as he won his heat, also in 9.95 seconds. Tebogo had the slowest heat of all, winning with ease in 10.07 seconds ahead of Canadian veteran Andre De Grasse.
“In 100m, a perfect start is needed, and if you have it, everything will be alright,” said Tebogo. “The start is something I have been missing the whole season, but now it’s getting to the right place. Regarding medals, everything is possible here. A medal will do for me, but I believe gold is for everybody. I just need a good day.”
A third Jamaican, Oblique Seville, has notched up two victories over Lyles in Diamond League meets in London and Lausanne this season. However, he had a terrible start here that saw him scrambling back to snatch the third and final automatic qualifying spot from the opening of the seven heats in 9.93 seconds. South African Gift Leotlela won in a personal best 9.87 seconds. Leotlela’s experienced teammate Akani Simbine also progressed. He has finished in the top five yet out of the medals in the past seven global championship 100m finals he has raced. Simbine has now run sub-10 seconds for 11 years in a row, one better than Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt.
Another American advancing was Kenny Bednarek, who shoved Lyles in the back after crossing the line of the 200m at the US trials for what he thought was an unsportsmanlike glance when Lyles crossed the line for the win. Bednarek qualified for Sunday’s semis with a comfortable heat win in 10.01 seconds despite forgetting to pack his spikes. “I am just a clumsy dude,” he said. “I have been focusing on so many things; I am the type of athlete that will always leave something at the track or forget something back home.”
Two other US runners were also expected to go through. Courtney Lindsay had no problem, but T’Mars McCallum failed to make the cut after being given the benefit of the doubt following a suspected false start. His race was won by Nigerian Israel Okon in 10.04 seconds ahead of Britain’s world bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes, with Italy’s 2021 Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs taking the third spot.
© 2024 AFP
