Lyles leads U.S. sweep; Jackson tops Jamaica 1-2 in 200

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EUGENE, Ore. — Noah Lyles crouched down, put his palms on his knees and glared on the clock. Not seeing what he’d hoped for, he waved his hand dismissively and walked again towards the monitor to rejoice what was nonetheless a long-awaited win Thursday within the 200 meters on the world championships.

Oh, however this night time would simply preserve getting higher.

The clock that, for a second, learn “19.32,” would alter down a tick to “19.31.” That meant he broke Michael Johnson’s hallowed, 26-year-old American document — a mark that, for many years, appeared unapproachable.

“I used to be very self-concerned about whether or not that quantity was going to show from a ‘2’ to a ‘1,” Lyles conceded.

It did. Then, just a few seconds later, the scoreboard that, at first, solely had Lyles’ title on it, popped up with the names of the 2 finishers behind him. Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. The Individuals swept the 200, simply as they’d the 100 4 nights earlier.

Lyles pounded his hand on the monitor 4 instances, stood up straight and ripped off his jersey. He grabbed his medal from the presenter, then went over and hugged his household and took maintain of an American flag — one in every of many which have been wanted at these championships on dwelling turf.

The sweep gave the U.S. 22 medals by way of seven days.

“America’s, like, scooping up medals left and proper,” Lyles stated. “This feels nice as a result of I have been ready for America to return out and dominate since I acquired on the platform.”

Lyles’ 19.31 was the third-fastest time in historical past, behind solely Usain Bolt’s 19.19 in 2009 and a 19.26 run two years later by one other Jamaican, Yohan Blake, whereas he was briefly pushing Bolt for supremacy.

However Johnson and people gold footwear he wore to run his 19.32 on the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 have a fairly large place in monitor historical past, too. He ran it 368 days earlier than Lyles was born.

“I noticed the time pop up and noticed I tied Michael Johnson’s document,” Lyles stated of the preliminary look on the clock. “I used to be like ‘Actually, you are going to do me like that?'”

Truly, one higher.

Hours after the victory, Johnson was down on the monitor speaking with Lyles whereas just a few dozen followers soaked within the scene. Johnson lifted Lyles’ arm within the air for photos. The brand new American record-holder.

“He simply stated he had an important race,” Johnson instructed an Related Press reporter when requested what they talked about. “He stated he labored tougher than he ever did. I assumed he ran an important curve. And so, it was incredible.”

Lyles’ victory got here moments after Shericka Jackson gave the Jamaican girls one other gold within the sprints. She ran 21.45, the second-fastest time in historical past, to beat 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Solely defending champion Dina Asher-Smith of Britain, who gained bronze, prevented a back-to-back Jamaican sweep.

Jackson’s time is shy solely of the 21.34 run by Florence Griffith-Joyner on the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Jackson stated her victory was fueled by a mistake eventually yr’s Olympics the place she slowed down within the curve and completed fourth in her preliminary warmth. She known as it a foolish mistake — one she hadn’t re-watched a single time.

“I by no means needed to as a result of I by no means needed it to play on my thoughts and suppose, it might occur once more,” she stated.

Whereas the Jamaican medalists had been the identical as 4 nights in the past — Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who gained bronze within the 100, completed seventh on this one — the Individuals put a totally totally different trio on the stand.

Fred Kerley, Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell dominated the 100. This time, it was Lyles, Bednarek — the Olympic silver medalist who broke his toe in December at dwelling whereas putting in a cupboard — and Knighton, who’s now the youngest particular person dash medalist in worlds monitor historical past.

Knighton’s 19.49 earlier this yr made him a slight favourite on this race and arrange what was being touted as a rivalry with Lyles. It was the 25-year-old Lyles who beat Knighton to the road final month at nationals and waved his finger as he crossed — a not-so-subtle message that he wasn’t giving in to his youthful rival.

“All people put within the work to be nice, and that is what he did,” Knighton stated. “I imply, he broke the American document.”

However Lyles can be the primary to concede that his largest competitors over the previous few years has been himself. As soon as, he was seen as monitor’s answer to its Bolt downside — particularly, who to show to seize eyeballs after the game’s most outsized persona retired.

However the pandemic hit. Lyles, who considers himself an entertainer at coronary heart, suffered at touring alone and competing in entrance of empty seats. He was unflinching about his mental-health struggles and the way troublesome it was to not have the ability to compete alongside his brother, Josephus, who’s on the U.S. relay pool this week.

However this week, the crowds had been again and the journey to Oregon was simple. Lyles stated he felt extra “me” than he had shortly.

Then, he got here out and ran prefer it.

Although the time says it finest, the race he ran was a magnificence.

Arms pumping, machine-like, he hugged the within line of Lane 6 as he rounded the curve. It was just about over after that. When he hit the straightaway, two physique lengths separated him and Bednarek in Lane 5. Lyles gained the race by three full footsteps.

“That is undoubtedly the beginning of my life,” stated Lyles, nonetheless on Cloud 9 hours after the race. “And it is solely gonna get quicker.”

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AP Sports activities Author Pat Graham contributed to this report.

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