BSP-12 US sprinter Lyles storms to first US 100m title

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BSP-12

ATHLETICS-USA

US sprinter Lyles storms to first US 100m title

CHICAGO, June 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – American sprinter Noah Lyles clocked
the fastest time in the world this year at 9.88 seconds to capture the men’s
100 metre US national title on Friday.

The 20-year-old Lyles came from behind to catch and pass runner-up Ronnie
Baker to lower the 100m world leading time of 9.89 which he ran earlier in
the day at the US Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

“World lead in two events. I feel so blessed,” said Lyles, who is known
primarily as a 200m runner.

Baker, who had the lead with 25 metres to go, finished in 9.90 while Kendal
Williams was third in 10.00.

In the semi-finals, Lyles ran the 9.89, equalling Mike Rodgers’ fastest
time of the year which Rodgers set during Thursday’s heats.

Rodgers did not run in the semis after being scratched from the race. No
details were given as to why he scratched from the event after cruising to a
win on Thursday.

With no Olympic or world championship team berths at stake for the only
time in a four-year cycle, many big American names are sitting these
nationals out, including world indoor record holder Christian Coleman and
100m world champ Justin Gatlin.

This is the first national title for Lyles, who doesn’t turn 21 until next
month.

“That’s actually pretty cool. Oh my God,” Lyles told reporters immediately
after winning the race.

Earlier this month in Kingston, Jamaica, Lyles ran a previous personal best
of 9.93 to become just the second person to break 10.00 in the 100 and 19.80
in the 200 before their 21st birthday. The other is Jamaica’s Yohan Blake.

Baker set a personal best of 9.90 despite finishing second. He said his
next stop is Europe, and specifically Paris, where he hopes to run more
personal bests.

“It is a learning process. I am overall happy. I feel like I let up a bit
at the tape. He just accelerated a little better than me today,” said Baker,
who travels to Paris on Tuesday.

In the women’s 100m final, Aleia Hobbs claimed her first career national
title with a winning time of 10.91 seconds.

She edged out runner-up Ashley Henderson who finished in 10.96. Jenna
Prandini was third in 10.98.

BSS/AFP/AU/09:40 hrs