Lyles wins 200m at US Olympic trials as Sha’Carri Richardson misses out

Noah Lyles kept his Olympic sprint double hopes alive Saturday night by coming from behind to win the 200 meters at the U.S. track events in 19.53 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

Lyles added the 200 meters, his signature race and the distance at which he is a three-time world champion, to the 100 meters he won last weekend.

It wasn’t a blowout, as Lyles had to race to the finish to pass Kenny Bednarek with about 10 meters to go, beating him by .06 seconds. Erriyon Knighton, who was competing in his first trials this year after being cleared in a drug-tainted meat investigation, finished third and made his second Olympic team.

Lyles ran 19.53 seconds, breaking the Olympic record of 19.66, which had been held by Michael Johnson since 1996.

Lyles heads to Paris hoping to make up for his only loss in the 200 at a major meet, which came while he was struggling with depression and finished third at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

“I’ve been saying it all season, but it helps not to have depression,” he told NBC in the post-race interview. “I thank God every day … for getting me through every lap. Healthy, mentally and physically.”

The Lyles victory came about 90 minutes after the other big name in this race, Sha’Carri Richardson, slowed down on the homestretch of the women’s 200 and finished fourth, depriving her of a chance to race in both sprints. Gabby Thomas won that title.

To emphasize that there are no certainties in track and field, Lyles found himself trailing Bednarek with about 10 strides to go in the 200-meter race.

Rather than trying to set an American or world record, as he suggested the night before, Lyles simply had to hold off Bednarek, who adds this second place finish to his second place in the 100 and also has a shot at hardware in both races in Paris.

“I had it, but I tightened it up a little bit, so I’m going to get it next time,” Bednarek said. “I’m hot on his heels.”