It was a moment made for the internet, and boy, did Noah Lyles deliver. Imagine the reigning world champion standing there, eyes wide, mouth agape, as the time “19.60” flashed on the screen after his 200m semi-final. If you’re picturing a blend of surprise and disbelief with a dash of pure joy, you’ve got it.
“Did I do that?” was the unspoken question written all over Lyles’ face, a scene straight out of a 90’s sitcom, channeling his inner Steve Urkel. It didn’t take long for the meme-makers to go into overdrive. By the time he caught his breath, Lyles’ priceless reaction had already taken the internet by storm.
It all unfolded on Friday evening at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – track & field at Hayward Field. Lyles, who already clinched the 100m victory, was back on the track with one goal: punch his ticket to Paris 2024 in the 200m as well. And punch it he did, clocking in a jaw-dropping 19.60 seconds.
A quartet of speedsters sets the stage for a thrilling final
Not to be outdone, a quartet of speedsters followed closely behind, making sure the final would be one for the ages. Christian Coleman blazed through with a 19.89, Erriyon Knighton dazzled with a 19.93, Kenny Bednarek glided in at 19.96, and Robert Gregory rounded out the sub-20 second club with a 19.98.
Fred Kerley, another standout in the 100m who had secured his spot alongside Lyles and Bednarek for Paris, opted out of the 200m to focus on his upcoming Olympic journey.
The stage is set for a showdown on Saturday night. With five men having already dipped below 20 seconds, the final promises to be nothing short of electrifying. But as the athletes prepare to race, it’s Noah Lyles’ moment of pure, unfiltered reaction that fans will carry with them-proof that even the fastest men alive can still be genuinely, hilariously human.