Lyles edges Knighton for US 200 title

EUGENE, Ore. – Noah Lyles pulled in front of teenage sensation Erriyon Knighton at the finish to win the 200 meters at the U.S. track and field championships Sunday.

“I do what it takes to win,” proclaimed Lyles, who cheekily pointed to Knighton as he hit the tape in 19.67 seconds.

Lyles won the 200 at the 2019 world championships in Doha and the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. He’ll be challenged again by Knighton in the worlds next month in Eugene.

“Job not finished,” said Knighton, just 18.

Temperatures in the mid-90s greeted athletes for the final day of the competition at Hayward Field. Events moved to earlier in the day because of the heat.

The top three in each event will be on the U.S. team for the world championships, given they have met the required performance standard.

Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu was challenged the last 100 meters by Ajee Wilson but pushed to finish first in the 800 in 1:57.16.

“It was a fast field, we were all together kind of throughout the whole race. I felt like we’d still be together the last 100, I just wanted to try my best to finish strong,” Mu said. “Ajee was right on me, I had to push a little harder to get to the line.”

Sha’Carri Richardson did not qualify for Sunday’s 200 final, her only remaining chance to make the U.S. team for the worlds. Her time in the semifinal, 22.47 seconds, put her out of contention. She did not comment to reporters afterward.

Hayward Field, on the University of Oregon campus, underwent $200 million in renovations to host the worlds, track and field’s biggest event outside of the Olympics. It is the first time that the world championships will be held on American soil.