Noah Lyles stormed to victory in the men’s 200 metres at the US track championships on Sunday, but it was what happened after the finish line that stole the spotlight.
Lyles crossed the line in 19.63 seconds, edging Kenny Bednarek by just 0.04 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. As Lyles passed his rival, he turned to exchange words—a move that sparked a dramatic confrontation.
In response, Bednarek shoved Lyles with both hands, leading to a heated exchange as both athletes engaged in shouting and chest-thumping. The tension spilled into the post-race NBC interview, with Bednarek calling out Lyles directly on air.
“If you’ve got a problem, I expect a call,” Bednarek said as NBC’s Lewis Johnson held out the mic.
Lyles responded, “You know what, you’re right. You’re right. Let’s talk after this.”
Though the sprinters eventually shook hands, the hostility lingered. Bednarek remained visibly upset as he spoke to reporters afterwards.
“The summary is, don’t do that to me,” Bednarek said. “I don’t do any of that stuff. It’s not good character right there. That’s pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I’ve got to give him props. He was the better man today.”
Despite the altercation, the win was no shock for Lyles, the three-time defending world champion in the 200 metres. But Bednarek, who has bested him before, including at the Tokyo Olympics, made clear he’s eager for the rematch at the world championships in Tokyo on 19 September.
“What he said didn’t matter, it’s just what he did,” Bednarek added. “Unsportsmanlike [expletive] and I don’t deal with that. It’s a respect factor. He’s fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that’s all I can say. Next time we line up, I’m going to win. That’s all that matters.”
Lyles, meanwhile, declined to elaborate further, saying, “On coach’s orders, no comment.”
While rivalries in track have often fizzled—whether between Lyles and Erriyon Knighton, Letsile Tebogo, or even NFL receiver Tyreek Hill—the heat between Lyles and Bednarek now seems impossible to ignore. Bednarek has suggested deeper, unresolved tension between the pair.
“Just some personal stuff we’ve got to handle,” he said.
Lyles, who only recently returned to full competition after an injury in April, remains undeterred.
“If they ain’t gonna beat me now, they ain’t gonna beat me ever,” he said.
Bednarek, who ran five races during the championships including a win in the 100m final on Friday, believes otherwise.
“We’ll go fresh and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “Because I’m very confident I can beat him. That’s all I can say.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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