World 100m Champion Lyles Secures Olympic Berth.

Posted 2 months ago

World champion Noah Lyles clinched victory in the 100m at the US Olympic trials, securing his spot for this summer's Games in Paris.

Noah Lyles, who previously missed the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by finishing seventh at the trials, equalled his personal best of 9.83 seconds in Eugene, Oregon, to qualify for the Paris Games.

Kenny Bednarek secured second place with 9.87 seconds, and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Fred Kerley came in third with 9.88 seconds, both earning their spots in Paris.

"Three years ago I got second to last. This year I came and won it," said Lyles, who ran a wind-assisted 9.80 in the semi-finals. "Part of the plan. Nothing changed. Might be a shock to everybody else, but when you know the goal, you know the goal."

Lyles’ only Olympic medal so far is a 200m bronze from Tokyo. Reflecting on his journey, he said, "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. I wouldn't have accomplished what I have accomplished in the past. Now we constantly look to the future with open eyes because anything can happen."

2019 world champion Christian Coleman finished fourth and missed out on qualifying. Sam Kendricks won the pole vault, clearing a meet record of 5.92m. In the 400m, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson broke his own under-18 world record with a time of 44.59 to qualify from his semi-final.

The Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, with the men's 100m final scheduled for August 4.