Noah Lyles surged ahead of his competitors to win the 100m final at the U.S. Olympic trials, clocking an impressive 9.83 seconds in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday. This victory secures his place at the Paris Games, where he aims to add to his growing list of accolades.
The world champion showcased his speed and strategy by accelerating at the midway point, breaking through the field to finish ahead of Kenny Bednarek (9.87) and Tokyo silver medalist Fred Kerley (9.88). Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion, led early but couldn't maintain his pace, finishing fourth with a time of 9.93 seconds.
Lyles, who achieved a sprint double at the world championships in Budapest last year, is setting his sights on four gold medals in Paris, including two individual and two relay events. "Part of the plan," Lyles said. "Might be a shock to everyone else but when you know the goal, you know the goal."
Reflecting on his journey, Lyles shared that past disappointments fuel his drive. Three years ago, he finished near the bottom in the 100m final at the trials and secured only a bronze in the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics after winning the race. "If I didn't get that third place in Tokyo I wouldn't have had that desire, I wouldn't have had that fire burning," he explained. "I wouldn't have accomplished what I've accomplished in the past and now we constantly look to the future with open eyes because anything can happen."
Looking ahead, Lyles will compete in his signature 200m event, with the opening heats scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
