Eugene, Oregon June 27 (BNA): World champion Noah Lyles skated in Irion Knighton to win the men’s 200 meters in 19.67 seconds at the US Championships, while National League champion Abby Steiner showed no signs of fatigue by dominating the race ladies.
Lyles lagged behind Knighton as he set off the corner but took off on the last leg, smiling a ‘finger pistol’ flash in the teenager’s face as he broke the bar two hundredths of a second ahead on the final day of the meet in Eugene, Oregon, Reuters reports. .
“I do whatever it takes to win and Aerion got my best in return – I’m not worried about that,” Lyles said. “I said, ‘I’ll catch it – it will take the remaining 100’.”
Olympic bronze medalist Lyles, who denied the 18-year-old a place on the podium in Tokyo, appears to have been whipped by Knighton in Eugene, which will host the first world championships to be held in the United States from July 15 .
After the race, Knighton snapped during a TV interview alongside Lyles, saying, “I’m not done.”
Steiner overcame more experienced opponents to win the women’s final, her time of 21.77 being the world’s best this season until Sherika Jackson clocked 21.55 in Jamaican practice later in the evening.
“With the college season kicking off, a lot of people want to put limits on you, saying you’re going to fall apart, but me and my coaches trusted the process,” Steiner said.
Tamara Clark came in second with a time of 21.92, and Gina Brandini, the silver medalist in Tokyo, came in third with a time of 22.01.
Olympic bronze medalist Gabrielle Thomas, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, finished last and 2019 silver medalist Brittany Brown finished fifth.
Fan favorite Sha’Carri Richardson failed to qualify for the final after also jumping in the 100m.
Eugene’s top three winners, who have met certain qualification criteria, and the world title holders will compete in the World Championships.
In the 110m hurdles, world leader Devon Allen secured his place by flogging his teeth, grabbing third place by three thousandths of a second, in 13.09.
Daniel Roberts won in 13.03 and Trey Cunningham came in second with a time of 13.08, while world champion Grant Holloway chose not to participate in the final.
“narrow”
Olympic champion Athing Mo dominated early and survived the challenge of two-time world bronze medalist Agie Wilson in the final to win the women’s 800m with a time of 1:57.16.
“It was a fast field,” Mo said. “Ajee was right, I just wanted to push harder and get to the line.”
Wilson finished seven hundredths of a second behind Mo, with Raven Rogers in third with a time of 1:57.96.
World and Olympic 400m hurdles silver medalist Ray Benjamin took a 47.04-place victory ahead of Trevor Bassett and his successor Rosser.
Benjamin, who is still regaining fitness after testing positive for COVID-19, cut his stride at the second hurdle but turned on the gas in the second half of the race.
“This weekend has been a lot for me,” he said in a televised interview. “I feel kind of battered, frankly.”
Four-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor finished fifth in the triple jump but will qualify for the world championships as the defending champion.
World bronze medalist Donald Scott won with a jump of 17.07 metres, followed by Will Clay second and Chris Bennard third.
Women’s World Championships silver medalist Chase Elle won the world-leading 20.51m, with Adelaide Aquila and Jessica Woodard taking second and third.
World indoor bronze medalist Bryce Hubble snatched the men’s 800m with a time of 1:44.60.
World silver medalist Emma Coburn won the hurdles, while Courtney Wyment and Tokyo silver medalist Courtney Freirich booked their place in the world championships.