The U.S. track and field nationals ended on a dramatic note as sprinters Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek clashed after the men’s 200-meter final.
Lyles won the race with a lightning-fast finish, but the real action came after the finish line, when emotions boiled over in a rare display of physical tension between top athletes.
A Thrilling Race Turns Into a Tense Showdown
Noah Lyles sprinted past Kenny Bednarek in the final moments of the race to win with a time of 19.63 seconds, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Bednarek. Right after the finish, Lyles turned and appeared to talk trash, which triggered Bednarek to shove him from behind.
What followed was a heated exchange of words, finger-pointing, and taunts, turning a routine winner’s interview into an intense confrontation.
Heated Words and a Challenge
Bednarek wasn’t happy with how Lyles celebrated his victory. He felt disrespected and accused Lyles of unsportsmanlike behavior. “The summary is, don’t do that to me,” Bednarek said. “That’s not good character.” Despite the tension, both runners shook hands briefly, though the rivalry seems far from over.
Their exchange spilled into the post-race interview, where Bednarek challenged Lyles to settle things later. Lyles responded calmly, saying they could talk after the event. However, when asked for more comments, Lyles kept quiet, saying his coach told him not to speak further on the matter.
A Rivalry in the Making
Though the media had tried to build rivalries between Lyles and others like Erriyon Knighton or NFL’s Tyreek Hill in the past, it seems Bednarek is Lyles’ true rival.
The two have history—Bednarek beat Lyles at the last two Olympic 200m events, though Lyles wasn’t at full strength then due to mental health struggles in Tokyo and COVID-19 in Paris.
Now both sprinters are healthy, and with the world championships coming up in Tokyo on September 19, a highly anticipated rematch is set. Bednarek is confident. “Next time we line up, I’m going to win,” he said.
Other Highlights from the Nationals
While Lyles and Bednarek stole the headlines, the championships saw other standout performances. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had a fantastic weekend, winning both the 100m and 200m. Her 200m time was a personal best of 21.84 seconds. Gabby Thomas also secured her spot for the world championships with a third-place finish.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, veteran Dalilah Muhammad claimed victory, especially notable with world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone choosing to compete in the open 400m instead, which she won.
One of the most exciting finishes came in the men’s 800m. Donavan Brazier held off young talent Cooper Lutkenhaus and Bryce Hoppel to win, showing he still has the speed and experience to compete at the highest level.
In the women’s 5,000m, Shelby Houlihan made a strong comeback by beating Elise Cranny to win the title. This was her first major win after returning from a four-year doping suspension, which she claims was due to eating contaminated meat.
The U.S. track nationals were full of excitement, personal drama, and incredible performances. While the results speak for themselves, it’s the intense rivalry between Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek that has fans talking.
With both athletes now preparing for the world championships, their next face-off promises even more fireworks. Whether it’s about speed, pride, or respect, the next chapter in their rivalry is one fans won’t want to miss.
