Thanks to several circumstances, the final run over 200 meters becomes the climax of the World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo. Two records are at stake in a race with several top stars and exceptional runners on reparation mission.
After his bronze stop to his “Affair” Is Noah Lyles back with his “Wife”. The American superstar described its conditions at the 100 and 200 meters in the Netflix documentary “Sprint”. While the longer route is his home, the shorter sprint is its variety, which it takes every now and then – of course also to expand his medal collection. This should now be expanded to include a very special golden one over half of the half of the stadium round.
Lyles has Bolt record in mind, but great competition
Why would that be so special? Lyles has the opportunity to stand on one level with Usain Bolt. From 2009 to 2015, the Jamaican world record team managed to win the World Cup title over 200 meters four times in a row. Lyles can now do it the same, he won the 2019 races, 2022 and 2023.
The preliminary runs have already shown the American that it will be a difficult task. “It already looks like it will be a race for the history books. Many said beforehand how much they are looking forward to the race – I wasn’t there yet”said Lyles. But then it was hailing in the top times in competition.
Lyles: “Everyone is hungry”
“Then I saw that everyone came to play their cards. This is the kind of finale you want when you go to your fourth World Cup”said Lyles after his 19.99 seconds in the lead. Besides him, four runners remained in the first round under the magical 20-second mark. “I thought it would mainly be Kenny and Letsile, but now I think everyone is hungry”said Lyles.
The US star had already indicated after the 100-meter final that his compatriot Kennarek and 200-meter Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo would be motivated over the double distance.
Bednarek had overslept the start of the short distance and was only fourth, Tebogo was disqualified after a false start. They want their personal revenge on the track, where both can be assessed even more like Lyles.
Tebogo feels no pressure, Bednarek is relaxed
Tebogo plays the situation a little. “I am not under pressure, it happened and I have to leave that behind me now. It was a mistake as it happened to everyone. I immediately ticked it off”said the top runner from Botswana and announced: “I think this will be an epic show. Noah wants to defend his title, of course I also want to win the title and Kenny wants to set a statement. Everyone wants to do something special in this final.”
Bednarek also announces to target gold – the duel between him and Lyles is one of the many special stories of the final. Six weeks ago, both of them got together in Eugene at the end of the 200-meter run, there were first provocative looks, then thrust and then evil words. And now? “Everything is cool, things like that happen in life. I can’t say more”said Bednarek.
Lyles lets the muscles play in the semifinals
In the semi -finals, the American and his competitors let actions speak again in the fight for gold. The preliminary fastest Bryan Lvell was the faster with 19.78 seconds in the first two rounds and gave Jamaica hope for the gold double after the 100-meter success of Oblique Seville. In total, all eight runners who qualified for the final remained less than 20 seconds – but Lyles really had it cracked.
With 19.51 seconds, the 28-year-old sent an impressive sign, it was the fastest time this year. But after the lead, Lyles had announced much more for the final on Friday (3:06 p.m.).
“It will be really fun, it will be a legendary race. This could be the fastest race over 200 meters in World Cup history, really”he said. Then it would be the fastest race at all, the world record comes from a World Cup final, in 2009 Bolt ran 19.19 seconds in Berlin.