Lyles wins 100m at US trials to qualify for Paris Olympics

Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion in the 100 meters, achieved redemption by emerging victorious in the 100m event at the US athletics trials on Sunday, securing his spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

After a disappointing performance in the trials three years ago, where he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in the 100m, Lyles clocked a personal best time of 9.83 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Reflecting on his journey, Lyles stated, "Three years ago, I finished second to last. But this year, I came back and claimed the victory." He emphasized that his success was part of his plan and that his goal remained unchanged. While it may come as a surprise to others, Lyles remained focused on his objective.

Kenny Bednarek, the Olympic runner-up in the 200m event at Tokyo, secured second place with a personal best time of 9.87 seconds. Fred Kerley, the reigning world champion in the 100m, finished third with a time of 9.88 seconds.

Looking ahead to the Olympic Games, Kerley expressed his readiness to put on a remarkable performance, stating, "We're prepared to showcase our abilities."

Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion in the 100m, missed out on the opportunity to compete for the gold medal, finishing fourth with a time of 9.93 seconds in a race with a wind speed of 0.4m/sec.

Although Lyles settled for a bronze medal in the 200m event at the Tokyo Olympics, despite being the favorite for gold, he bounced back last year by clinching world titles in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. He is now considered a strong contender for gold once again in France.

Lyles acknowledged that his third-place finish in Tokyo fueled his desire and determination to achieve greater success. He credited that experience for his accomplishments thus far and expressed optimism for the future, stating, "We constantly look ahead with optimism because anything is possible."

Lyles dominated the semi-final qualifiers, recording a time of 9.92 seconds in the preliminary heats on Saturday. He continued his impressive performance by winning his semi-final heat with a wind-aided time of 9.80 seconds (3.0m/sec), securing his place as one of the eight finalists.

Bednarek, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, expressed his composure and focus in executing his race.

Athing Mu, the reigning champion of the women's 800m event at the Tokyo Olympics, made a strong comeback in the heats after a nine-month break. She showcased her dominance by winning her semi-final heat in 1:58.84, securing her spot as the fastest qualifier for the final on Monday.

Reflecting on her performance, Mu expressed her satisfaction with her race, stating that she felt much more in control compared to previous races. She also acknowledged the faster pace of this particular heat, which provided her with valuable insight into what to expect in the final.

In other events, Sam Kendricks emerged victorious in the men's pole vault, setting a new meet record of 5.92m. This achievement surpassed his previous record by a mere 0.01m. Chris Nilsen, the Tokyo Olympic runner-up, and Jacob Wooten both shared second place with a height of 5.87m.

Quincy Hall, who finished third in last year's world championships, displayed his prowess by winning his men's 400m semi-final heat in a time of 44.42 seconds, leading the pack of finalists.

Notably, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson impressed by qualifying for the final and setting a personal best of 44.59 seconds, which also stands as an under-18 world record. Wilson expressed his dedication and determination, emphasizing that he gave his all in the race, just like his competitors.

In the women's 400m final, Kendall Ellis, a member of the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team in Tokyo, emerged as the champion with a time of 49.46 seconds. She finished 0.25 seconds ahead of Aaliyah Butler.

Unfortunately, Brooke Andersen, the reigning women's world hammer throw champion, was unable to make a mark in the competition.