IF THERE WEREN’T ALREADY a blazing rivalry between superstar sprinters Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek before Sunday’s 200, there is now.
In the most intense race between the two yet, Lyles came from behind for a world-leading 19.63 over Bednarek’s 19.67. But drama that started just before the finish line between the two was ignited by a Lyles stare-down.
Coming in, Bednarek owned just 2 wins in 11 sprint finals between the two over 5 years of racing each other, but both came in Olympic 200s as he won silvers to Lyles’ bronzes in both Tokyo and Paris. Lyles was unbeaten against Bednarek in U.S. 200 championships, with last year’s OT 19.53–19.59 verdict the closest and best race. Lyles is also the 3-time world champion in the event (and has a Tokyo Wild Card).
Bednarek has had a terrific ’25, though, including a PR 9.79 victory (sans Lyles) two days earlier. Lyles had raced sparingly but beat Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo in Monaco 3 weeks ago (19.88) and early Sunday won the first semi in 19.97. When Bednarek (19.84 ’25 best) won semi No. 3 in 19.99, the stage was set.
Bednarek (lane 6) got a very strong start and led off the curve. Lyles kept grinding to his right in lane 7, though, as he has done in the second half of races so many times. He pulled ahead in the final 5m to cross the line 0.04 ahead.
As Lyles hit the front he turned to his left to scowl at Bednarek and continued well beyond the tape. Bednarek responded with a two-handed push from behind. Lyles stumbled slightly, continuing to jog forward, and then, about 15m down the track, turned and danced like a boxer in front of him.
Bednarek walked toward Lyles, resisting any urge to accept a challenge that could have led to trouble. Bednarek extended his hand to shake Lyles and while the champ hesitated at first, he accepted it, but appeared to say, “I expect my apology.”
The conversation continued as they gathered for a semi-awkward “Team USA” interview with NBC’s Lewis Johnson. “I expect a call,” Bednarek was saying, first drawing an ‘are-you-kidding?’-type look from Lyles. “If you got a problem, I expect a call, that’s all I’m saying.” This time Lyles replied, “Right, let’s talk after this.”
In his response to Johnson, Lyles focused on how tough it was to give it his all despite not having run many races and not being 100%.
Johnson did ask Bednarek directly about the conflict, however, and he said “Hey, I’m not going to say it out here, but we got something to do, to talk about. That’s all I’ve got to say.” Regarding his race, he added, “I did what I needed to do in the 100. In the 200 I didn’t… [but] I ran a good time… I tried to execute the race 100%, but I didn’t quite get it. I’m happy with my performance considering I was dealing with **** 2 weeks ago.”
Asked about the clash with Bednarek in the mixed zone, Lyles said, “On coach’s order, no comment.”
But again, Bednarek did address it: “Like I’ve said before, for years, Noah’s going to be Noah,” he said. “You want to stare me down, it’s fine, but I ran five rounds; he’s fresh. He can line up again when we’re both fresh and see what happens. I’m very confident I can beat him. That’s all I can say. Little personal stuff and we’ll figure it out.
“What he said doesn’t matter, it’s what he did,” he continued. “Unsportsmanlike and I don’t deal with that… At the end of the day, he can call me whenever, we can discuss it and we should be good.”
Lost in the drama were great performances in 3rd- and 4th by Robert Gregory (who crushed his PR with a 19.80) and Courtney Lindsey (who completed his stellar weekend by making a second team with 19.82).
MEN’S 200 RESULTS
FINAL (August 03; wind +0.2)
1. Noah Lyles (adi) 19.63 (WL, AL) (x, =37 W; x =20 A)
(5.81, 4.44 [10.24], 4.52 [14.76], 4.87) (10.24/9.39);
2. Kenny Bednarek (Nik) 19.67
(5.68, 4.47 [10.15], 4.56 [14.71], 4.96) (10.15/9.52);
3. Robert Gregory (Nik) 19.80 PR
(5.81, 4.49 [10.30]. 4.58 [14.88], 4.92) (10.30/9.50);
4. Courtney Lindsey (Nik) 19.82
(5.75, 4.46 [10.21], 4.60 [14.81], 5.01) (10.21/9.61);
5. Erriyon Knighton (adi) 19.97
(5.86, 4.55 [10.41], 4.63 [15.04], 4.93) (10.41/9.56);
6. Christian Coleman (Nik) 20.02
(9.66, 4.57 [10.23], 4.70 [14.93], 5.09) (10.23/9.79);
7. Kyree King (Nik) 20.20
(5.75, 4.60 [10.35], 4.71 [15.05], 5.15) (10.35/9.85);
8. T’Mars McCallum (Tn) 20.43
(5.79, 4.66 [10.45], 4.74 [15.18], 5.25) (10.45/9.98);
9. Max Thomas (On) 20.49
(5.84, 4.66 [10.50], 4.81 [15.31], 5.18) (10.50/9.99).
HEATS (August 03)
I(0.0)–1. Lindsey 20.08; 2. McCallum 20.37; 3. Quoi Ellis (unat) 20.74; 4. Lance Lang (unat) 20.92; 5. Michael McClain (IaSt) 21.29;… dq—Xavier Butler (Tx).
II(1.7)–1. Lyles 19.97; 2. Coleman 20.20; 3. King 20.25; 4. Brandon Hicklin (Nik) 20.34; 5. Javonte’ Harding (unat) 20.42; 6. Tate Taylor (TxHS) 20.63, Elijah Morrow (AthTX).
III(-0.1)–1. Bednarek 19.99; 2. Gregory 20.03; 3. Knighton 20.14; 4. Thomas 20.29; 5. Sam Blaskowski (unat) 20.65; 6. Dapriest Hogans (PittSt) 20.72; 7. Jae’len Means (GardStTC) 21.01.
