Lyles speeds through finals to earn spot at Olympics in 100 meters

EUGENE, Ore. — Noah Lyles locked down the first major step in his quest for an Olympic sprint double Sunday, coming from behind to win the 100 meters at U.S. track trials in 9.83 seconds to qualify for that race in Paris.

Lyles overcame a slow start to beat 200-meter specialist Kenny Bednarek by .04. Fred Kerley, the 2022 world champion, finished in third and will also go to Paris. Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champ, was in the lead with about 30 meters left but finished fourth.

The Lyles win makes the American sprint favorites 2 for 2 after three days of these trials. It comes a day after Sha’Carri Richardson also lived up to expectations and won the women’s 100 to earn her trip to Paris.

This marks the first national title in the 100 for Lyles, who has long been a 200-meter specialist but who rededicated himself to the shorter distance last year.

He went on to win the world championship in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay last year, setting the stage for a quest to do it again in the Olympic year. If he pulls it off in Paris, he would be in company with Usain Bolt, the Jamaican great who went 3 for 3 all three times he raced at the Olympics.