Tokyo (AFP) – Noah Lyles matched Usain Bolt’s record of four consecutive world 200 metre titles as he scorched to victory in Tokyo on Friday. Lyles, who won bronze in the 100m in the Japanese capital, clocked 19.52sec in what the charismatic American calls his “bread and butter” event. Lyles roared as he came through the line, raising four fingers to acknowledge his four 200m titles and quickly seeking out his onlooking mother Keisha Caine Bishop in the stands.
Lyles’s teammate Kenny Bednarek took silver in 19.58sec, with Jamaican Bryan Levell claiming bronze in 19.64sec. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana had to settle for fourth, just a hundredth of a second off a podium place. Anguilla-born Briton Zharnel Hughes was the other sub-20 sprinter, fifth in 19.78sec. Bolt won his four titles from 2009-2015, going on to collect 11 world golds and eight Olympic titles in his storied career.
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“I can’t wait for 2027 to become the only man to win five 200 metres titles!” said Lyles. “I knew some of the guys were going to tighten up but I just stayed relaxed and got the job done. I am proud to be able to show all my skills. I had great speed endurance, that’s something I tried to build up by doing 400 metres, and had during the 100m final. But this is where I got to show off all my skills.”
– ‘I controlled the race’ – Lyles said the Tokyo world championships this week was very different from the Olympics on the same track four years ago at the Covid-delayed Games. “I don’t have good memories from Tokyo in 2021,” he said. “At that time I was depressed, but this time I am energised. I love what I do and I am happy. My face is blasted everywhere over Tokyo. This is amazing and such a joyous moment I am going to keep with me forever. Now I want to win the gold medal in the relay.”
Lyles, who ran the fastest-ever semi-final performance in the history of any championships when he clocked 19.51sec on Thursday, was drawn in lane six, outside Tebogo and inside Levell and Bednarek. Ever the showman, Lyles was afforded a rapturous welcome as images were beamed up on the big screens by way of introduction at a packed-out National Stadium. Lyles raised his arms high into the sky, holding the pose before releasing a bellowing roar as he flexed downwards. Bednarek, Levell and Tebogo were far more subdued.
There was no repeat of his overhyped entry to the 200m final at last year’s Paris Olympics, when he was fined for his exuberant pogo stick-like display. Covid-stricken at the time, he went on to claim bronze as Tebogo won. Lyles, not well known for his starts, immediately fell off Levell out of the blocks. But the American ran a masterful curve that saw him back in with a chance going into the home straight.
His top-end speed, coming into the final third of either the 100 or 200m, is unmatched on the circuit. And he made it count as he worked his way back from fourth place to fire through the line in first. “Today I didn’t have the start I had in the semi-final but I knew I was still moving fast,” Lyles said. “I studied my competitors. I knew their momentum was going to slow up once we got closer to 150m but mine was going to build up after I hit that mark. Being patient was the most important thing. I controlled the race.”
© 2024 AFP
