Noah Lyles and Jamaica's Shericka Jackson Run Historically Fast Times In Electric 200-Meter Finals

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan Photos | Tim Healy Photos

EUGENE – Make no doubt about it, Noah Lyles was already happy when he hit the finish line and defended his world title in the 200 meters by blowing out the field. 

But as he studied the time on the clock, he saw a number that belonged to someone else. Michael Johnson's 19.32 has been an iconic number ever since he ran that to win the 1996 Olympic title in Atlanta, a year before Lyles was born. 

"I expected that time, but I didn't want to see 32," Lyles said. "I wanted my own time, you know? Nobody wants to share a record. I don't even think Michael Johnson would want to share a record, so I was just, like, begging it to change. Like, c'mon, please don't do this to me.

"And then I turn around and I hear the crowd just go into an uproar."

The clock was readjusted to read 19.31. 

Lyles erupted with joy and ripped his uniform apart. At some point thereafter, Johnson came onto the track to congratulate him. It was the first time the two had met face to face. 

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Only Usain Bolt (twice) and Yohan Blake have run faster. 

The victory gave Lyles a repeat world title and showed his progress back from a rough year in 2021 when he ran to bronze at the Olympics in Tokyo. 

In Eugene, Lyles' exuberance and energy fed a home crowd that was eager to see fireworks in the men's 200. 

"It's like being a rock star," Lyles said. "When us three (including Erriyon Knighton and Kenny Bednarek) they were already standing, already screaming our names out. You don't hear that in Europe."

Bednarek ran 19.77 to earn the silver medal and 18-year-old phenom Erriyon Knighton, the world leader coming into the meet, finished with bronze in 19.80. 

NCAA champion Joe Fahnbulleh, representing Liberia, was fourth in 19.84, one spot up from last year's Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

The women's race that preceded the men's was no less spectacular. 

Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, much like Lyles, ran away from everyone. She hit the finish tape in 21.45 for the second-fastest time in history behind Florence Griffith-Joyner's 21.34 from 1988, the world record. 

Jackson became the first athlete in World Championships history to medal in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. She transitioned into the shorter sprints after earning bronze in the 400 in 2015 and 2019. 

She came in with a world-leading time of 21.55 that she ran in Kingston, Jamaica on June 26. That was the third-fastest time in history. 

"I'm loving the feeling of being among the fastest set of female sprinters in the world," Jackson said. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica captured her 13th World Championships medal by taking silver in 21.81. The 100-meter champion has only earned golds and silvers during her illustrious World Championships career. 

Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, the 2019 champion, took bronze with 22.02. 

Athing Mu, Ajee' Wilson and Raevyn Rogers all advanced to the semifinal round of the women's 800 meters, and event where the U.S. stands a great chance to add to its tally of 22 medals. 

Four-time world champion Christian Taylor, on the mend after Achilles' tendon surgery in 2021, did not advance to the final of the men's triple jump, and neither did Chris Benard. Will Claye and Donald Scott did advance for the U.S. 

Kenya will have three men to the finals of the men's 800 meters and Simane Moula of Algeria ran the fastest time in the semifinals with 1:44.89.

Anderson Peters from Grenada thew 294-11 (89.91m) in qualifying to make the final of the men's javelin. Curtis Thompson of the U.S. advanced to the final. 

Grant Fisher and Abdi Nur both advanced to Sunday's final in the men's 5,000 meters. Fisher's Bowerman Track Club teammate, Woody Kincaid, was tripped up in his heat and said he intended to file a protest. As of Thursday night, he was not qualified for the final. 

Nur's former Northern Arizona teammate, Luis Grijalva of Guatemala, became the first athlete from his country to earn a spot in the finals in a World Championships on the track.