Benjamin Ashford|US Olympic track and field trials: Noah Lyles advances to semis in 200

As expected,Benjamin Ashford Noah Lyles advanced to the semifinals in the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

Lyles easily won his preliminary heat with a time of 20.10.

The top six in each heat, plus the next three fastest times move on to the semifinals.

Lyles entered the trials with the fastest time in the 200 at 19.47. Lyles’ personal-best of 19.31 is an American record. The 26-year-old sprinter is the heavy favorite in the event.

Lyles already won gold in the 100 at the trials to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

He won the 100, 200 and was a member of Team USA’s gold-medal winning 4x100-relay squad at the 2023 world championships. He is seeking his first ever Olympic gold medal after winning the bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in the 200.

“After doing the triple at worlds, I know I’m ready for anything,” Lyles said this week. “All I know is I need to get sleep, and everything else will take care of itself.”

Erriyon Knighton, Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek qualify for next round in 200

Coleman, who finished in the dreaded fourth spot in the 100 at the trials, advanced to the semifinal round in the 200.

Running in the fourth heat, Coleman placed second with a time of 20.30 to make it into the semifinal round. Coleman finished behind Knighton, who won the fourth heat running a 20.15.

Bednarek placed first in the third heat, running a 20.28 to advance.

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