Noah Lyles has matched Usain Bolt’s record of four consecutive world 200 metres titles as he scorched to victory at the world championships in Tokyo.
And American Rai Benjamin outpaced rivals Alison Dos Santos and Karsten Warholm to claim a first world 400 metres hurdles title — and survived a brief disqualification too.
Lyles, who won bronze in the 100m, clocked 19.52sec for victory in what the American calls his “bread and butter” event.
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Bolt won his four titles from 2009-2015, going on to collect 11 world golds and eight Olympic titles.
Lyles’ teammate Kenny Bednarek took silver in 19.58sec, with Jamaican Bryan Levell claiming bronze in 19.64sec.
Lyles, who ran the fastest ever semi-final performance in the history of any championships when he clocked 19.51sec on Thursday, was drawn in lane six, outside Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and inside Levell and Bednarek.
Ever the showman, Lyles was afforded a rapturous welcome as images were beamed up on the big screens by way of introduction at a packed out National Stadium. Lyles raised his arms high in the sky, holding the pose before releasing a bellowing roar as he flexed downwards. Bednarek, Levell and Tebogo were far more subdued.
There was no repeat of his over-hyped entry to the 200m final at last year’s Paris Olympics, when he was fined for his exuberant pogo stick-like display. Covid-stricken at the time, he went on to claim bronze as Tebogo won.
Lyles, not well known for his starts, immediately fell off Levell out of the blocks, but the American ran a masterful curve that saw him back in with a chance going into the home straight.
The American’s top-end speed, coming into the final third of either the 100 or 200m, is unmatched on the circuit.
And he made it count as he worked his way back from fourth place to fire through the line in first.
Lyles roared as he came through the line, raising four fingers to acknowledge his four 200m titles and quickly seeking out his onlooking mother Keisha Caine Bishop in the stands.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was briefly stripped of victory after he hit the last hurdle and it moved into the neighbouring lane, before being reinstated after a US team appeal.
The 2024 Olympic champion, who has two previous world silvers and a bronze to his name, clocked a season’s best time of 46.52sec for victory at the National Stadium.
Brazil’s 2022 world champion Dos Santos took silver in 46.84sec, with Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba rounding out the podium in 47.06sec.
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There was heartbreak for Warholm, who previously won world titles in 2017, 2019 and 2023, and who claimed gold on this same Tokyo track at the Covid-delayed 2021 Olympics. The Norwegian could only finish fifth in 47.58sec.
Warholm, in lane four, got off to his trademark thunderous start, but clipped the third hurdle.
Coming off the bend into the home straight, Benjamin, in lane seven, had a clear lead and the American kept his rivals at bay, albeit clattering the 10th and final hurdle, causing the disqualification issue. Dos Santos finished strongly as Warholm faded.
“I had something happen when I got out of the block, like a little strain in my left thigh,” said Warholm.
“I don’t know if it’s a hamstring or knee. Trying to hurdle with it wasn’t good. I also crashed the third hurdle.”
Warholm added: “I tried to push, but it was just a terrible race. A disaster. I knew I was good and that’s why this outcome is disappointing. It’s just shit.”
The drama ensued after the medallists rounded the track draped in their respective flags.
They were then put in a waiting zone as the women’s 400m hurdles played out, Femke Bol retaining her title with American Jasmine Jones taking silver.
Benjamin was quickly out of his seat to embrace Jones after the race and the pair posed for photos, just as the former’s disqualification was announced on the official results service.
No one, however, thought to tell Benjamin and it was a full 15 minutes before an official dared to inform the American.
Benjamin immediately took off the golden crown he had doffed, returned to his seat to put down the US flag and then sought out his coach, this time refusing more photos and autograph requests.
Conversations continued trackside and just as Benjamin was coming to terms that he was disqualified, he was reinstated — as was the crown.
— AFP
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