Elite sprinters Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek spiced up the final day of the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon.
Lyles passed Bednarek in the final 5 meters of the 200 finals to win the national championship in 19.63 seconds, the world’s best time this year and Bednarek’s first defeat in 2025.
Just before they crossed the finish line, Lyles turned to his left and glared at Bednarek. About 20 meters beyond the finish line with Lyles decelerating on the curve ahead of Bednarek, who mostly continued to go straight, Bednarek gave Lyles a two-handed shove in his back. Lyles turned around and spread his arms wide, as if to ask what was happening. They later talked and shook hands.
When they were interviewed together by NBC after the race, Bednarek declared, “I expect a call. I tell you, if you’ve got a problem, I expect a call.”
“You know what? You’re right,” Lyles replied. “You’re right. Let’s talk after this.”
“I’m not going to say it out here, but we’ve got something to do and talk about,” Bednarek said. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
The victory was Lyles’ fifth in the event, tying the record set by Ralph Metcalfe in the 1930s and matched by Michael Johnson in the 1990s.
Lyles and Bednarek, who finished in 19.67, will be teammates for Team USA at the World Championships from Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo as the top three in each event Sunday qualified for worlds.
In other finals action on Sunday, 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus shattered the under-18 world record in the 800 meters as he finished second in 1 minute, 42.16 seconds, trailing only Donavan Brasier (1:42.27). The rising junior at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, also posted the second-fastest time in under-20 history and the 18th-fastest time overall.
“That’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen,” said Bryce Hoppel, who finished third at 1:42.49 to earn the third spot on the world championship team.
In the women’s 400 hurdles, 35-year-old Dalilah Muhammad added another chapter to her final-year story by winning in 52.65. The 2016 Olympics gold medalist led from start to finish out of Lane 7.
“You can’t plan these things,” Muhammad said. “Based on what I ran last year, I ran 54 at trials … and didn’t make the team. You never know what the next year can bring. This year was just about getting healthy. Yeah, just go and see what the body can do on this last kind of victory lap.”
In other women’s finals, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden claimed the 200 crown in a personal-best 21.84 to edge Anavia Battle and Gabby Thomas.
Roisin Willis, 20, won the 800 in 1:59.26, just 0.13 ahead of Maggi Congdon.
Shelby Houlihan was in seventh place heading into the final two laps of the 5,000, but the 32-year-old rallied to win in 15:13.61.
Valarie Allman dominated the discus with a throw of 234 feet, 5 inches, which was nearly 22 feet past silver medalist Laulauga Tausaga-Collins.
In the pole vault, Sandi Morris hit her second attempt at 15-10 to collect the gold.
In the men’s high jump, Tyus Wilson cleared 7-5 1/4 on his third and final try to claim gold.
Salif Mane leaped a season-best 56-3 1/4 on his final attempt to tie Russell Robinson in the triple jump. However, Robinson earned the gold as his second-best jump was superior.
Josh Awotunde uncorked a personal-best heave of 73-8 3/4 on his final attempt to edge Payton Otterdahl for the shot put title.
In the meet’s final event on the track, 19-year-old Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn ran a personal-best 13.01 in the 100 hurdles to nip Cordell Tinch at the tape by 0.02.
Rai Benjamin, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 400 hurdles, continued his dominance in a time of 46.89.
Cole Hocker, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, was in seventh place with 200 to go in the 5,000 final. However, he passed his opponents on the inside of the final straightaway to grab the national title in 13:26.45.
–Field Level Media
