EUGENE, Ore. — American track and field enthusiasts take a lot of pride in making one bold claim.
When it comes to qualifying for the Olympics, they contend their team is the toughest one to make — of any sport, in any country.
Given what took place in two electrifying men’s and women’s 200-meter races at the U.S. Olympic trials Saturday night, the track and field diehards may have a point.
“The U.S. has been dominating. We’ve had two medalists at least at each world championship and Olympics since 2021,” men’s 200 winner Noah Lyles said. “So the 200, we definitely have a strong, strong [chance] for sweeping it.”
For the men such as Lyles, it was business as usual in Saturday’s final. By the end of the tightly contested sprint, the top 3 were Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton, respectively. A semblance of that trio had long been expected to emerge from the last heat and qualify for the Paris Games.
Although Bednarek charged out to an early lead and appeared in position to hold on late for the win, it was ultimately Lyles’ world-leading, meet-record, 19.53-second time…
