RANDALLS ISLAND, NEW YORK, June 09 — Technical issues with the starting blocks held up the men’s 200 at the USATF NYC Grand Prix, but when the race finally went off, Noah Lyles came out with a convincing win in his specialty.
In his season debut at the distance, the only challenger he faced was a -1.7 wind. Despite that, he clocked 19.77, much to the delight of the crowd at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island. Joseph Fahnbulleh took 2nd in 20.15.
“I said yesterday that I wanted the world lead, but I guess the wind had a disagreement there,” said Lyles, who has spent the spring focusing on the 100, running a season’s best 9.85 the previous week in Kingston. “I feel like I got the power for sure. I’m trying to find the rhythm again. This was my first 200, but I still expected something fast.”
Lyles was targeting the 19.67 WL that Kenny Bednarek clocked in Doha in May, but admitted that a mid-race adjustment may have cost him some time. “At 60 or 70 meters into the turn, I slowed down to make sure my positions were correct,” he said. “I lost a bit of speed, but I am OK with that. I’d rather have a good position going out of the turn.”
Not long before that race, there was a similar blocks-related delay in the 100. After the first start was called back, Fred Kerley’s blocks slipped on the next try, which may have caused him to jump the gun. Irritated by the situation (as well as a fractured relationship with his sponsor), he ultimately scratched from the race.
“I slipped the first time, I slipped the second time, and I was not gonna let it happen a third time,” said the ’22 world champion. In his absence, Udodi Onwuzurike edged Kendal Williams for the win, 10.24 to 10.25, into a -0.7 wind.
In the 400, Kirani James was only 4th coming off the final turn, but the Olympic and world champion overhauled the field to win in 44.55. Chris Bailey (44.73) also closed well to outlean Wayde Van Niekerk (44.74) and Jereem Richards (44.82).
“This meet always has such a great crowd,” said James. “There’s a lot of Grenadians here, we have a huge diaspora in New York and I’m just glad that I could make them happy and proud today.”
Jake Wightman’s comeback from injury continued with a well-timed kick that gave him the 1500 win over Eric Holt. Off a conservative pace, Wightman, the ’22 world champion, covered the last lap in 52.29 for a 3:34.01 finish. Holt (3:34.05) lowered his PR, while Hobbs Kessler (3:34.41) took 3rd. Grant Fisher, stepping down from his usual domain of the 5K and 10K, placed 5th in a PR of 3:34.90.
“Holt ran fast. He was there all the time,” said Wightman, who is preparing for the British championships. “If I could have asked for that, I would have wanted it. It was a good simulation for the trials which is what I need.”
Trey Cunningham won the 110 hurdles in 13.21, ahead of Rasheed Broadbell (13.28). Mexico’s Tonatiu Lopez won the 800 in 1:44.96, just enough to hold off the late charge from NCAA Div. II champion Wes Ferguson of Nebraska-Kearney, who set a PR of 1:45.06.
In the field events, Donald Scott won the triple jump at 55-7 (16.94), edging Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who reached 55-6¼ (16.92). Donavon Banks took the javelin with a 259-10 (79.20) effort. Dontavious Hill cleared a personal best 7-5 (2.26) to win the high jump. Marquis Dendy took the long jump at 26-5¾ (8.07), the day’s only mark over 8 meters.
NYC MEN’S RESULTS
100(-0.7): 1. Udodi Onwuzurike (Ngr) 10.24; 2. Kendal Williams (US) 10.25; 3. Pjai Austin (US) 10.26; 4. Kadrian Goldson (Jam) 10.30;
5. Benjamin Azamati (Gha) 10.31; 6. Sandrey Davison (Jam) 10.32; 7. Micaiah Harris (US) 10.55; 8. Terrance Laird (US) 10.62;… fs—Fred Kerley (US).
200(-1.6): 1. Noah Lyles (US) 19.77; 2. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.15; 3. Josephus Lyles (US) 20.51; 4. Jeremiah Curry (US) 20.52; 5. Brandon Hicklin (US) 20.60 =PR; 6. Elijah Morrow (US) 20.79; 7. Brandon Carnes (US) 20.80.
400: 1. Kirani James (Grn) 44.55; 2. Chris Bailey (US) 44.73; 3. Wayde van Niekerk (SA) 44.74; 4. Jereem Richards (Tri) 44.82;
5. Matthew Boling (US) 45.08; 6. Jacory Patterson (US) 45.75; 7. Zandrion Barnes (Jam) 46.23; 8. Elija Godwin (US) 46.35.
800: 1. Jesús López (Mex) 1:44.96; 2. Wes Ferguson (US) 1:45.06 PR; 3. Josh Hoey (US) 1:45.35 PR; 4. Isaiah Jewett (US) 1:45.41;
5. Clayton Murphy (US) 1:45.75; 6. John Rivera (PR) 1:45.89; 7. Sam Ellis (US) 1:45.93 PR; 8. Luciano Fiore (US) 1:47.54; 9. Peter Bol (Aus) 1:48.41.
1500: 1. Jake Wightman (GB) 3:34.01; 2. Eric Holt (US) 3:34.05 PR; 3. Hobbs Kessler (US) 3:34.41;
4. Vincent Ciattei (US) 3:34.62; 5. Grant Fisher (US) 3:34.90 PR; 6. Eduardo Herrera (Mex) 3:35.29 NR; 7. Luke McCann (Ire) 3:35.51;
8. Jesse Hunt (Aus) 3:36.17; 9. Morgan Beadlescomb (US) 3:36.43; 10. Abdihamid Nur (US) 3:38.49; 11. Ben Flanagan (Can) 3:39.38 PR; 12. Mason Ferlic (US) 3:40.23.
110H(-0.8): 1. Trey Cunningham (US) 13.21; 2. Rasheed Broadbell (Jam) 13.28; 3. Michael Dickson (US) 13.45;
4. Tyler Mason (Jam) 13.52; 5. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.56; 6. Robert Dunning (US) 13.56; 7. Eric Edwards (US) 13.62; 8. Rasheem Brown (Cay) 13.73.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Dontavious Hill (US) 7-5 (2.26) PR; 2. Earnie Sears (US) 7-3¾ (2.23); 3. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-3¾;
4. Tejaswin Shankar (Ind) 7-1¾ (2.18) PR; 5. Kyle Rollins (US) 7-1¾; 6. Vernon Turner (US) 7-1¾; 7. Django Lovett (Can) 7-1¾; 8. Darryl Sullivan (US) 6-11¾ (2.13).
LJ: 1. Marquis Dendy (US) 26-5¾ (8.07); 2. Carey McLeod (Jam) 26-1¾ (7.97); 3. Jarrion Lawson (US) 25-4½ (7.73); 4. Will Williams (US) 25-4½ (7.73); 5. LaQuan Nairn (Bah) 24-7 (7.49).
TJ: 1. Donald Scott (US) 55-7 (16.94); 2. Jordan Scott (Jam) 55-6¼ (16.92); 3. Chris Carter (US) 53-5¾w (16.30) (52-4¾/15.97);
4. Jah-Nhai Perinchief (Ber) 53-4½w (16.27) (53-1½/16.19); 5. Chengetayi David Mapaya (Zim) 53-1 (16.18).
DT: 1. Alex Rose (AmS) 217-1 (66.18); 2. Roje Stona (Jam) 216-5 (65.96); 3. Andrew Evans (US) 215-10 (65.78); 4. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 215-7 (65.70);
5. Sam Mattis (US) 214-10 (65.49); 6. Jordan Roach (US) 211-3 (64.40) PR; 7. Brian Williams (US) 204-11 (62.46); 8. Josh Syrotchen (US) 178-10 (54.51).
HT: 1. Daniel Haugh (US) 255-1 (77.76) (f, 253-11, 255-1, 253-4, f, f) (f, 77.41, 77.76, 77.22, f, f);
2. Rudy Winkler (US) 253-4 (77.23) (247-1, f, 253-4, f, 230-6, 251-0) (75.31, f, 77.23, f, 70.26, 76.51);
3. Tyler Williams (US) 236-4 (72.05); 4. Tyler Merkley (US) 235-4 (71.73); 5. Alex Young (US) 235-2 (71.69);
6. Isaiah Rogers (US) 229-4 (69.90); 7. Morgan Shigo (US) 228-2 (69.55); 8. Anthony Barmes (NZ) 227-7 (69.36).
JT: 1. Donavon Banks (US) 259-10 (79.20); 2. Jordan Davis (US) 258-3 (78.72); 3. Curtis Thompson (US) 257-11 (78.63);
4. Marc Minichello (US) 253-3 (77.21); 5. Capers Williamson (US) 245-1 (74.71); 6. Ethan Shalaway (US) 229-5 (69.92); 7. Brett Thompson (US) 219-10 (67.02).