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EUGENE (Reuters): World champion Noah Lyles reeled in Erriyon Knighton to win the men’s 200 metres in 19.67 seconds at the U.S. championships on Sunday, while national collegiate champion Abby Steiner showed no signs of burnout by dominating the women’s race.
Lyles trailed Knighton coming off the turn but charged down the final stretch, grinning and flashing a ‘finger gun’ at the teenager as he broke the tape two hundredths of a second ahead on the final day of the meet in Eugene, Oregon.
“I do what it takes to win and Erriyon got the best of me on the turn - I ain’t worried about that,” said Lyles. “I said, ‘I’m gonna catch him - it’s just going to take the whole rest of the 100’.” Olympic bronze medallist Lyles, who denied the 18-year-old a spot on the podium in Tokyo, clearly got under Knighton’s skin in Eugene, which will host the first world championships to be held in the United States from 15 July.
After the race, Knighton stormed off during a televised interview alongside Lyles, saying: “I’m not finished.” Steiner saw off more experienced opponents to win the women’s final, her time of 21.77 the best in the world this season until Shericka Jackson posted 21.55 at the Jamaican trials later in the evening.
“Coming off of the collegiate season, a lot of people want to put limitations on you, saying you’re going to be burnt out, but me and my coach trusted the process,” said Steiner.
Tamara Clark was second in 21.92 and Tokyo relay silver medallist Jenna Prandini came third in 22.01.
The top three finishers in Eugene, who met certain qualifying standards, and reigning global titleholders will compete at the world championships.
