US athletics championships kicked off on Thursday with Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles and 2023 world champion Sha'Carri Richardson dominating their respective heats to secure semi-final spots in the 100m dash.
Lyles, the 2024 Paris Olympics 100m gold medallist, won his heat in 9.97sec, just behind Christian Coleman's 9.96sec. The 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist Richardson topped the women's heats in 10.90sec.
Lyles called his championships opener a "good warm-up" to "get the engine firing." He predicted a "fast final" on Friday on the Icahn Stadium track, where Usain Bolt set a 100m world record of 9.72sec in 2008 – a mark the Jamaican eventually lowered to the current 9.58.
Coleman, the 2019 world champion and the 60m indoor world record-holder, was pleased with his "really smooth" start to the meeting. He said, "I was able to break 10 (seconds) without really hitting the gas like I know I can, so I feel good about it."
The 100m dash semi-finals will see Lyles and Coleman competing alongside other top contenders, including Kenny Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medallist at 200m, who won his 100m heat to advance.
The opening day of competition also featured a number of finals, including the men's 10,000m, where Woody Kincaid surged late to win in 30min 13.66sec. The 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher clocked 30:14.46 to take second place.
In the women's 10,000m, Sydney Vaught won in 33:36.98. The men's long jump saw Isaac Grimes claim his second straight title, clearing 8.18m on his final attempt, with Malcolm Clemons taking second place with a leap of 8.07m.
The 100m dash final is set to take place on Friday, with Richardson looking like a heavy favourite to win the title.
Source: Yahoo Sports