EUGENE — Noah Lyles and his family had the chance to meet Snoop Dogg on Saturday. On Sunday, Lyles matched his personal best of 9.83 like it was hot to win gold in the 100 meters in the presence of the hip-hop legend.
With a white pearl necklace around his neck, Lyles proved once again that he is the fastest man in the country after winning the 100m at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Lyles was running on par with the other sprinters at the 50 meter mark, but his acceleration and finishing were enough to allow him to overtake his competitors.
Lyles revealed that the second half of the race was an important point for him after the victory.
“When I got to the final, it felt like we’re not just going to win from the 60 (meter points), but we’re going to keep going. Let’s see what we do from that point,” said Lyles. “Every step I took it felt right and I felt good in my positions. We got to the acceleration phase and my hips came through and I didn’t feel like I had to push very hard. It felt like my knees were going straight down the track. They were directly under me. Each step I took felt more powerful than the last.
Kenny Bednarek ran a personal best 9.87 to finish second and Fred Kerley crossed the line in 9.88 to place third. All three will qualify for the Paris Olympics, where the fastest man for the world crown will be on the line.
Lyles currently holds the crown. Lyles is the reigning world champion in the 100 and 200. The 200 is considered his strongest event, but he shows on the track that he is a force in the 100 as well.
“It’s just more confidence. More confidence all the way. I came here (and) I tied my (personal best),” Lyles said. “That’s all I want moving forward.”
Before Sunday night’s final, Lyles ran a 9.92 to win his heat in the preliminary round, he ran a wind-aided 9.80 to win his section in the semifinals, then lost a gold medal time of 9.83 to qualify for the Paris final. Olympic Games. This is the third best time in the world this year.
The Paris Games will be Lyles’ second Olympics. Lyles competed in the Tokyo Olympics and won bronze in the 200m. He is determined to redeem himself after what he describes as a difficult Olympics in Tokyo.
Lyles is scheduled to run the 200 on Thursday. He is the prohibitive favorite of the event.
“He ran really well. He did what he had to do,” Lyles’ coach Lance Brauman told USA TODAY Sports after the 100. “He checked the first box. We still have one check box.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
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