Noah Lyles lights up Lausanne Diamond League
Lyles becomes the fourth-fastest 200m runner in history as Justin Gatlin and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce return to winning ways.
Athletics
Noah Lyles declared himself "very satisfied" after becoming the fourth-fastest man over 200m at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday (5th July).
The 21-year-old surged clear in the home straight to clock 19.50s and break his own personal best and Usain Bolt's meeting record.
It was the seventh quickest 200m in history with only world record holder Bolt, Yohan Blake and Michael Johnson above him on the all-time list.
"There is nothing better than seeing the accomplishments of what you have put in. Each year I'm making a huge jump." - Noah Lyles speaking after winning the Lausanne Diamond League 200m.
Lyles had been beaten by fellow American Michael Norman in Rome in his previous 200m race this season.
Despite defeating subsequent world leader Christian Coleman over 100m in Shanghai, he has made clear that the longer sprint will be his target for the World Championships in Doha starting in late September.
And with Norman focusing on the 400m, it is hard to see anyone beating Lyles in this form.
Fraser-Pryce stops American sprint sweep
Lyles' run was the standout performance on a night of high-quality athletics in Lausanne.
Behind him, Ecuador's Alex Quiñónez set a new national record with 19.87s with Canada's three-time Olympic medallist Andre de Grasse third in 19.92s as he continues his comeback from illness and injury.
But Lyles' time was the best over 200m since Bolt won gold at London 2012.
He said, "Me and my coach have been working really hard. I know I'm running exactly what my coach wants me to run. It was a good, well executed race.
"I'm very satisfied. It's time for the next race."
Reigning world champion Justin Gatlin said he was "feeling strong and competitive" after winning the 100m.
The 2004 Olympic 100m gold medallist clocked 9.92s, five-hundredths slower than he ran in Stanford on Sunday behind Christian Coleman, but enough to claim his first Diamond League win of 2019.
After finishing only eighth in Stanford, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bounced back to form in Lausanne.
The two-time Olympic 100m champion flew out of the blocks and kept extending her advantage as she won in 10.74s from Dina Asher-Smith with Prefontaine Classic winner Marie-Josee Ta Lou in third.
Having failed to break 10.8 last year after taking time out to have a baby, the 32-year-old Jamaican has now done so twice in just over two weeks.
She said, "I came to Lausanne in a very happy state of mind despite a poor performance in Stanford. I am delighted with 10.74 today. Such ups and downs make sure that you do not take anything for granted and do not get complacent.
"I am feeling great. Let's see how the season progresses, I will happily embrace anything the season will throw at me. I am going to enjoy and do my best." - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after winning the 100m in Lausanne
Fraser-Pryce denied Americans a clean sweep of the sprint events in Lausanne with the women's 200m going to Gabrielle Thomas in 22.69s.
Lisek joins 6m club
Piotr Lisek became the newest member of the elite six-metre-plus club in winning the pole vault.
The Pole and Sam Kendricks both failed three times at 6.01m but, as they were level on countback, had another attempt in the jump-off.
Lisek went clear for a new national record, and took victory as world champion Kendricks was unsuccessful again.
European champion Mondo Duplantis and London 2012 gold medallist Renaud Lavillenie were tied for third with a best height of 5.81m.
"This is one of the best days of my life. I'm so happy as I work so hard for these types of moments in life. We fight so hard at this level and to be able to beat Sam and Armand today is a dream." - Piotr Lisek after winning the pole vault
Colombia's Olympic triple jump champion Caterine Ibarguen got the better of world champion Yulimar Rojas in the triple jump.
Both South Americans had four fouls in their six attempts, and it was Venezuelan Rojas who led for much of the competition with her second-round leap of 14.82m.
But Ibarguen snatched victory in round five with a season's best of 14.89m.
"I'm very happy with my victory tonight and with the quality of my jumps. Even if not all were valid, they were all pretty good technically speaking." - Caterine Ibarguen after winning the triple jump
Timothy Cheruiyot underlined his status as the top dog in the 1500m at present as he took victory in 3:28.77, the best time in the world this year and a new meeting record.
Norway's 18-year-old double European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen showed he will be a challenger in Doha with second place in a personal best of 3:30.16.
The other meeting record to fall on the night was in the women's 400m with Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser clocking 49.17s, a new national record.
Naser won narrowly from Aminatou Seyni who set a new Nigerian record of 49.19s.