Lyles shows his flash, speeds through finals to earn spot at Olympics in 100 meters
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — 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.
Simone Manuel channels her winning side, touches first in 50 free to claim individual Olympic race
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Simone Manuel has earned an individual race at the Olympics on the final night of the U.S. swimming trials, winning the 50-meter freestyle. Coming back from overtraining syndrome, which hampered her preparations leading up to the Tokyo Games, Manuel won the frantic dash in 24.13 seconds. Gretchen Walsh took the second spot. In the final race of the nine-day trials in Indianapolis, Bobby Finke blew away the field in the 1,500 free. He’ll head to the Olympics looking to defend the gold medals he won in the 800 and 1,500 freestyle at Tokyo. The real race was for the last spot on the Olympic team. David Johnston edged Luke Whitlock by only 26-hundredths of a second after nearly 15 minutes of racing.
