The tension was high on Sunday during the battle for the national title in the 200 meters at the American Athletics Championships. Noah Lyles won against Kenny Bednarek and provoked his rival, who clearly did not appreciate it.
Lyles passed Bednarek in the final meters from lane 7 and looked stoically to the left even before the finish. He stared at his rival in lane 6 for seconds. Bednarek did not appreciate this and gave Lyles a push after the finish.
Afterwards, the 28-year-old Lyles refused to comment on his provocation. The winner of Olympic gold in the 100 meters in Paris repeatedly pointed to “the orders of his coach.”
Bednarek did give a reaction. “What Noah said doesn’t matter. It’s about what he did. That is unprecedentedly unsportsmanlike,” said Bednarek. “I don’t participate in those kinds of things. It does not reflect a good character.”
Due to all the tensions after the race, there was hardly any talk about the time Lyles ran. He recorded the best season time with 19.63. Lyles hopes to defend both his world title in the 100 meters and the 200 meters at the World Championships in Japan next month.