REIGNING WORLD and U.S. champ Fred Kerley sat this one out to focus on the 200, so the premeet hype focused on two things: Noah Lyles’ attempt to prove he’s a bona fide 100 star, and whether Christian Coleman has regained the form that took him to the ’19 world title.
But nobody was counting on Cravont Charleston to upset the formchart. The 25-year-old NC State grad used a devastating rush to the tape to take his first national title.
The prelims were uneventful, save for Coleman (9.95) looking remarkably comfortable while clocking the day’s only sub-10, in a heat that saw last year’s WC silver medalist, Marvin Bracy-Williams, stumble awkwardly in the final 30m and stagger home last in 11.14. Also eliminated was Michael Norman, who has a Wild Card to Budapest in the 400, but could only manage 10.31 for 8th here.
The following evening Coleman won the first semi after establishing a huge lead in the first 10m, then cruised home in 9.98, well clear of Kendal Williams (10.10). In the second race, the hard-charging Lyles — who was skipping the 200 here thanks to his Wild Card — corralled Charleston in the final 10m to win 9.94–9.96, with Trayvon Bromell, bronze medalist at the ’22 Worlds, hitting a season’s best 10.02.
In the final, with essentially no wind (+0.1), Coleman blasted away in lane 3, leaving Lyles (in 4) and Bromell (2) in his wake. He continued to roll, even as Charleston (6) accelerated into 2nd by halfway.
Only in the final steps did Charleston manage to catch Coleman, and his lean gave him a 0.01 margin, 9.95–9.96.
“I had a great view: Noah, Christian, everybody in the field, just pushing me and I’m really glad I made it through,” said Charleston, whose previous highest honors were a collection of ACC titles.
He was running in his first U.S. outdoor final. A semifinalist last year, he lowered his PR to 9.90 in June, stamping himself as a contender: “I knew I could race the big guys. I said, ‘Just do what you’ve got to do to win and make the team.’”
Lyles, his start once again betraying him — his reaction time of 0.175 was the slowest in the field — was also closing hard. While he never threatened for the win, he was a decisive 3rd in 10.00, ahead of Brandon Carnes (10.10), J.T. Smith (10.14) and Bromell (10.14, and, he revealed, troubled by a painful bone spur in his right ankle).
“I didn’t feel like I was going to be really a part of the team unless I made the team in the 100 this year and I did it,” said Lyles, who revealed that he came down with COVID after the NYC Grand Prix 2 weeks ago and had been limited in his training coming into Eugene: “This was the hardest team I’ve ever had to make in my life.”
Coach Lance Brauman told T&FN he liked Lyles’ start in his semi better than what he saw in the final, and of his star’s flying finish said, “That’s just what he does.”
MEN’S 100 RESULTS
FINAL (July 07; wind +0.1)
1. Cravont Charleston (TS) 9.95;
2. Christian Coleman (Nike) 9.96;
3. Noah Lyles (adidas) 10.00;
4. Brandon Carnes (unat) 10.10;
5. J.T. Smith (AMC) 10.14;
6. Trayvon Bromell (NBalTW) 10.14;
7. Kendal Williams (adidas) 10.16;
8. Terrance Laird (adidas) 10.18.
(lanes: 1. Carnes; 2. Bromell; 3. Coleman; 4. Lyles; 5. Williams; 6. Charleston; 7. Laird; 8. Smith)
(RT: 0.141 Smith; 0.156 Bromell; 0.159 Coleman; 0.160 Carnes; 0.163 Charleston; 0.166 Williams; 0.167 Laird; 0.175 Lyles)
HEATS (July 06)
I(0.2)–1. Smith 10.02; 2. Bromell 10.05; 3. Micah Williams (Or) 10.11; 4. Kyree King (Nike) 10.15; 5. Courtney Lindsey (TxT) 10.17; 6. Cravon Gillespie (Nike) 10.20; 7. Brandon Hicklin (LSU) 10.25; 8. Michael Norman (Nike) 10.31; 9. Rodney Heath (LaT) 10.42.
II(0.3)–1. Pjai Austin (Fl) 10.17; 2. Da’Marcus Fleming (LSU) 10.20; 3. Sterling Warner-Savage (unat) 10.22; 4. Taylor Banks (FlSt) 10.25; 5. Austin Kresley (Ia) 10.26; 6. Ronnie Baker (adidas) 10.28; 7. Sam Blaskowski (WiLC) 10.31; 8. Marqueze Washington (unat) 10.32.
III(0.6)–1. Charleston 10.01; 2. Lyles 10.05; 3. Carnes 10.14; 4. Amir Willis (FlSt) 10.17; 5. Dondrea Swint (TxT) 10.22; 6. Lawrence Johnson (Wi) 10.30; 7. Ilias Garcia (SHARKS) 10.37; 8. Victor Smith (AlSt) 10.37.
IV(0.5)–1. Coleman 9.95; 2. Williams 10.02; 3. Laird 10.07; 4. Chris Royster (unat) 10.13; 5. Coby Hilton (unat) 10.28; 6. Cameron Rose (Clem) 10.29; 7. Cooper Bibbs (SHARKS) 10.29; 8. Marvin Bracy-Williams (Nike) 11.14.
SEMIS (July 07)
I(1.0)–1. Coleman 9.98; 2. Williams 10.10; 3. Laird 10.13; 4. Fleming 10.21; 5. Royster 10.25; 6. Austin 10.26; 7. Willis 10.27; 8. Warner-Savage 10.28.
II(1.2)–1. Lyles 9.94; 2. Charleston 9.96; 3. Bromell 10.02; 4. Carnes 10.09; 5. Smith 10.10; 6. Lindsey 10.14; 7. King 10.15; 8. Williams 10.19.