Noah Lyles Advances to Olympic 100-Meter Final Race

by Innews Editors

Updated August 30, 2024

In an exciting Olympic 100 meters semifinal, American sprinter Noah Lyles faced stiff competition and made it to the gold medal race, thereby setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown. Although Lyles took second place to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who produced a stunning 9.81 seconds, his performance was enough to get him into the final, slated for later on that evening.

However, not only is this the second time over the course of the season that Seville has lined up against and outpaced Lyles, but the Jamaican’s.02 seconds advantage means that he has a slight edge after spending a relative eternity fastened tightly to Lyles’ shoulder. Consequently, Seville made his lead count from the first stride, although Lyles began closing the gap in the final 40 meters, only to finish tightly behind. This assured an extremely competitive final, as Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson led the semifinal race after posting 9.80 seconds, thereby also emerging as a runner to watch.

Moreover, having already run 9.77 seconds, Thompson has the world’s best time coming into this final, and he will be there fighting to restore the sport to Jamaican hands since the retirement of internationally acclaimed Usain Bolt in 2016. However, the challenge will be overcome by Lyles, as well as the two Jamaicans, defending champion Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, who advanced to the final by a time of 9.92 seconds, and Americans Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley. In addition to them, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and South Africa’s Akani Simbine will be fighting for a place on the podium, which makes this final one of the most open and exciting in Olympic history. The prize seems closer for Lyles to make a stab for gold, as his susceptibility to short races and speed defines him in American sprinting.

He needs to pull his finishing capability out of the bag and grant him the edge he needs going into the final. As the completion approaches, all the participants are getting ready for the final in the Olympic Stadium, which is alive with the thrill of the anticipated climax for the men’s 100 meters. It remains to be known whether Lyles succeeds in the final and wins against Seville, something that he has been unable to do during this season. A victory in this contest would greatly impact Lyles’ career.

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