Erriyon Knighton and Noah Lyles sail through to 200m semis at Track & Field Worlds 

As championship openers go, this was comfortable.

In a competition that has all the hallmarks of a classic, the men's 200m heats began in relaxed fashion for the USA trio of Erriyon Knighton, Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley - if winning your heat in and around 20 seconds can be called relaxed.

All three favourites for the 200m crown ran within themselves, looking composed and confident as they got through their first round of the half-lap competition on Day 4 of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Bigger tests lay ahead - starting with Tuesday afternoon's semi-finals. And after the USA's sweep of the podium in Saturday's 100m final, few would bet against them repeating the feat in the 200 - particularly as Canadian Olympic champion Andre De Grasse did not start the race after recent struggles with injury and COVID took their toll.

Knighton was the first of the three to take to the track, racing to victory in 20.01. As he entered the home straight he looked across to his opponents to see where they stood, easing himself to the finish line to conserve energy for the later rounds.

After his exertions in the 100m, Kerley was greeted with huge roars from the Hayward Field crowd before winning his heat in 20.17.

Finally, it was time for Lyles, the reigning world champion and bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020. In a display of showmanship, the 25-year-old - who celebrated his birthday today - stretched his arm out towards the runners to his right as if to mark his territory, before finishing his heat in 19.98.

Of course, the reason fans are so excited about this battle for gold will likely become apparent in the final, where all three are capable of jaw-dropping times.

Knighton became the fourth-fastest man in history when he set a time of 19.49 earlier this year. It's sometimes difficult to remember that he is only 18.

"I am good, happy with the result, ready to go to the semi-final," Knighton said after his race, before later expressing how happy he is with how the last 12 months of competition, in which he has lowered his PB by 0.35 seconds, have gone.

"I cannot ask for more, I am at the spot where I want to be. One of my best years, if not my best and I am just happy.

Lyles is one lower on all-time the list, with a PB of 19.50. It doesn't take a mathematician to see why it's not easy to pick a favourite between the two.

And, then, there is Kerley, buoyed by his historic victory in the men's 100m, where he led home the first American World Championships podium sweep in the event since Carl Lewis and co. in 1991.

It all makes for a mouthwatering prospect as the world waits for the semi-finals, which take place on Tuesday 19 July at 18:50 pm and the final on Thursday 21 July at 19:50 pm.

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