US championships: sprint stars Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek clashed

A provocative look, a thrust and a heated word battle: The two US sprint stars Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek have delivered a sensational duel over the 200 m at the trials in Eugene.

100 m Olympic champion Lyles only passed Bednarek in the last meters with a strong finish and stared at his rivals. Bednarek reacted with a push after the finish line before the two of them exchanged clear words on the track. The twist even continued afterwards in the TV interview.

Word battles after the finish line

“This is unsportsmanlike behavior and I can’t handle it”, ” said Bednarek, who had secured the title over 100 m in strong 9.79 seconds two days earlier: “I can’t deal with something like that. It doesn’t testify to a good character.” Lyles, who had only started over 100 m in advance, did not comment on: “At the instruction of my trainer – no comment”.

Lyles won the race in the world’s best time of 19.63 seconds, at the World Cup in Tokyo in just under six weeks he wants to emulate Usain Bolt and get his fourth World Cup title in a row over the 200 m. The 28-year-old has a wildcard over the 100 m, so another heated duel between Lyles and his challenger Bednarek is paving in Tokyo.

Bednarek eaten: “Noah remains Noah”

“The next time we start, I’ll win. It’s all that counts for me”said Bednarek, who won twice Olympic silver over 200 m and became vice world champion over this route behind Lyles 2022.

In addition, he made a pleasure that Lyles had completed significantly fewer races in Eugene before the 200 m final: his 100 m retreat: “Noah remains Noah. If he wants to staring at me, that’s okay. But I ran five rounds and he was fresh. We can run against each other again when we are both fresh, and then we see what happens – because I am very confident that I can beat him.”

Lyles, who had to deal with foot and groin problems in preparation, countered: “If you can’t beat me now, you will never beat me”.