When Noah Lyles powered into the straightaway and started pulling away in the 200-metre final, only a few questions remained on a night when track’s best sprinters backed up the hype at the World Championships.
The man who wants to someday be more than a mere sports star stayed on that trajectory on Friday in a 19.52-second runaway to become the first man to complete the 100-200 sprint double at the Worlds since Usain Bolt did it for the third time back in 2015.
This was Lyles’ third straight World Championship in his better race, the 200.
Earlier this year, Lyles went to social media and declared he was going to run 200m 19.10, which would shatter Bolt’s world record of 19.19 that felt untouchable when he set it in 2009.
The same might be said for Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who ran the second fastest time in history — 21.41 seconds — to win her second straight title at 200 metres. Four days after taking second in the 100, Jackson beat American Gabby Thomas by 0.4 seconds and three steps in the 200, with Sha’Carri Richardson taking bronze to go with her gold in the 100.
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s record of 21.34 is nearly 35 years old and Jackson has now run in the 21.4s twice — this adding to the 21.45 she ran at last year’s Worlds. Flo-Jo’s mark could be ready to go in Paris. “When I crossed the line and I saw the time, I was like, Oh, I’m close, I’m close!’” Jackson said.
In the women’s triple jump, Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, the world-record holder, jumped 15.08 metres in her last attempt to rise from the eighth spot and take gold.
India's relay high
The Indian men's 4x400m relay team shattered the Asian record in a stunning race, clocking 2 minutes 59.05 seconds to qualify for their maiden final round of the World Championships on Saturday.
The Indian quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh finished second in heat No.1 behind the US (2:58.47) to make it to Sunday's final.
The earlier Asian record of 2:59.51 was in the name of the Japanese team.
US disqualified
The United States women's 4x400m relay team, who have won seven of the last eight World Championships and the last seven Olympic gold medals, were disqualified from Saturday's semi-finals after a botched baton changeover.
AP/PTI, Reuters
