Sprinter Noah Lyles wins 100m at US Olympic trials to book Paris spot

EUGENE – Noah Lyles chased down his rivals to win the 100m final at the United States Olympic trials in 9.83 seconds in Eugene, Oregon, to book a spot at the Paris Games.

The world champion hit the accelerator at the midway point to burst through the field and cross the line ahead of Kenny Bednarek (9.87sec) and Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley (9.88sec) on June 23.

“On to the next one at the Olympic Games,” Kerley said. “We’re ready to go put on a show.”

Bednarek reached Paris after a near miss at the Tokyo 2020 trials. “I just stayed calm and collected and executed my race. That’s all I needed to do,” he said.

“I got edged out at the Tokyo Olympic trials but I’m finally getting the hang of the 100 and the sky is the limit for me.”

Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion, had the early lead but ran out of steam and finished fourth in 9.93sec.

Lyles, who won the sprint double at the world championships in Budapest in 2023, is aiming for four gold medals – two individual and two relay – in Paris.

“Three years ago, I got second to last. This year I came and won it. Part of the plan,” Lyles said. “Might be a shock to everyone else but when you know the goal, you know the goal.”

Lyles finished next to last in the 100m final at the trials three years ago in Eugene, and after winning the 200m he could do no better than bronze in the event in Japan.

Those disappointments still drive him, he said.

“If I didn’t get that third place in Tokyo I wouldn’t have had that desire, I wouldn’t have had that fire burning,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have accomplished what I’ve accomplished in the past and now we constantly look to the future with open eyes because anything can happen.”

Lyles will next compete in his signature event, the 200m, with the heats set to begin on June 27.

The third day of the US trials at Hayward Field saw Kendall Ellis win the women's 400m final in 49.46sec, with Aaliyah Butler taking second in 49.71sec and Alexis Holmes claiming her spot in Team USA in 49.78sec.

Sam Kendricks, the 2016 Olympic pole vault bronze medallist, won his final with a meet record of 5.92m but it remains to be seen whether he will travel to Paris after telling reporters he might skip the Games.

Kendricks had travelled to the Tokyo Games but was not allowed to compete after testing positive for Covid-19.

In footage posted on social media on June 21, he said: “The Olympics screwed me – everybody at Team USA left me behind.”

Olympic champion Athing Mu reached the 800m final after winning her semi-final in 1min 58.84sec.

The 22-year-old had not competed in 2024 before the trials due to injury.

“I felt way more in control this race. The first round was just to kind of to get my legs moving again,” she said. “I want to make sure I do run my race (in the final).”

Michael Norman, the 2022 400m world champion, won his semi-final in a conservative 45.30sec, while 16-year-old Quincy Wilson brought the house down as he improved on his own Under-18 world record to qualify for the final in 44.59sec.

“I came out and gave it everything I had,” Wilson said. “We put on the same shoes the same way.”

Annette Echikunwoke won the women’s hammer with her first attempt, a throw of 74.68m, while 2019 world champion DeAnna Price was second (74.52m) and Erin Reese third (71.21m). REUTERS, AFP