EUGENE, Ore. — Noah Lyles arrived at Hayward Field wearing a Gucci suit, accompanied by Snoop Dogg holding his briefcase.
Hey, is this for Hollywood, social media, branding, NBC-TV? Or for track and field?
These are not mutually exclusive. Noah Lyles has a lot going on, including a newly released documentary.
None of it has seemingly been a distraction. Lyles is a genuine attraction.
"Hey, whatever gets you ready to run, I'm all for it," said Lance Brauman, his coach.
Lyles underscored that he is ready for the Paris Olympics. Ready for three gold medals, maybe four.
He won the 100 meters Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 9.83 seconds, beating a powerhouse field featuring two other world champions. He equaled his best time from the 2023 World Championships at Budapest, Hungary, where he claimed three golds.
He said it gave him more confidence for what awaits him at the Paris Olympics. The pre-race atmosphere there could not exceed the tension, or the quiet, before this showdown.
"It was definitely electric," Lyles said. "It was responsive. I think they all needed a jolt."
Lyles gave them one.
Kenny Bednarek, heretofore known as a 200-meter specialist, was second in 9.87. Fred Kerley, the 2022 world champion on this track, was third in 9.88.
Christian Coleman, the 2019 world champion and March's world indoor champion at 60 meters, bolted into his customary fast start but was overtaken by the three Olympians. Florida high school sensation Christian Miller was fifth in 9.98.
Kerley has had an unconventional build-up, including changes in sponsor, shoe and coach. He was tearing up the track before his 2022 world title, but there was not a lot to suggest he could recapture that form in 2024.
"I feel like everything comes to an end," Kerley said. "Everything comes to a beginning. And this is my beginning."
The other highlight of the night was an Olympic Trials record of 19 feet, 5 inches in the pole vault by the outspoken Sam Kendricks. He was a silver medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics but was quarantined at Tokyo 2021 because of a positive COVID test. He was so vexed by how he was treated he said he might decline his spot on the Olympic team.
Chris Nilsen was second and Jacob Wooten third, both at 19-3. Kentucky’s Keaton Daniell, who won the NCAA title here, was fourth with a personal best of 19-1. The vault went on without American record-holder KC Lightfoot, who failed to get out of Friday’s qualifying.
Other winners:
- Kenneth Rooks in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 8:21.92; Kendall Ellis in the women’s 400 meters, 49.46; Annette Echikunwoke in the women’s hammer, 245-0; Curtis Thompson in the men’s javelin, 272-5.
- Brooke Andersen, the 2022 hammer world champion, fouled on all three of her attempts.
- American record-holder Evan Jager, 35, the longtime Bowerman Track Club runner, was fourth in the steeple in 8:28.73. He lacks the Olympic qualifying standard, as do each of the top three.
- Oregon graduate Raevyn Rogers won a semifinal of the women’s 800 in 2:01.08 to qualify for Monday’s final. She was bronze medalist at Tokyo.
- Athing Mu, in her first meet since setting an American record at last September’s Prefontaine Classic, surged late to win a semifinal in 1:58.84, fastest overall.
Announced ticketed attendance was 12,108.
Contact KGW correspondent David Woods at dwoods1411@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.
