Noah Lyles laid down a hefty marker for next month’s World Athletics Championships by winning a thrilling 200m rematch against Letsile Tebogo of Botswana in the Diamond League final in Zurich.
Tebogo sprung a major surprise at last year’s Olympics by beating Lyles, who it later turned out had Covid. And it looked like a repeat was on the cards as Tebogo led from the gun.
But in the final strides the American finally got his vest in front to take victory – and the $30,000 (£22,000) prize – in 19.74sec, with Tebogo 0.02sec back in second. It was a much-needed confidence booster for Lyles after two recent defeats in the 100m, as he took his sixth Diamond League final win.
“Six in a row, the most in track!” said Lyles. “It is pretty nice to have that. I saw Letsile lean on the finish line but I knew I won. I knew if I panicked I was not going to win. If you are tight you are done for.”
Elsewhere it was a good night for British athletes as Max Burgin nearly took down the men’s Olympic 800m champion and Georgia Hunter Bell ran a personal best in the women’s 800m.
Burgin has long been compared to Sebastian Coe, but a series of injuries has left the 23-year-old unable to fulfil his potential. But he will gain immense confidence slugging it out with Emmanuel Wanyonyi before finishing in 1min 42.42sec, his second quickest time.
“Today was a bit of a world championships field, like a test,” said Burgin, who was just 0.05sec behind Wanyonyi in second. “I am dreaming of being at the exact same position at the worlds.”
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Georgia Hunter Bell was edged on the line by Switzerland’s Audrey Werro in the 800m. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Hunter Bell was just as impressive as she weaved her way from fifth to second in the final 200m to finish in 1:55.96 – a career-best time by half a second and the third fastest time in British history behind her training partner Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie.
However the Briton, who has opted to run the 800m rather than the 1500m in Tokyo, was unable to get past the young Swiss star Audrey Werro, who delighted the home fans to win in 1:55.91.
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