Noah Lyles of T.C. Williams got off to a strong start at the World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine on Friday as he will be advancing onto the semi-finals round in the 200 meter dash after clocking a wind-legal 21.28 personal best in his preliminary heat to finish second and qualify on time behind heat winner Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru of Nigeria (21.24). Earlier in the outdoor season at the Northern Region Championships, Lyles clocked his fastest time ever at 21.26 in the prelims on day 1, but despite no wind gauge was clearly wind-aided given the strong tailwind conditions, so his 21.28 performance at the World Youth Championships in the prelims stands out as his best 200 meter race so far. The T.C. Williams rising sophomore need to run just as well in the semi-finals round tomorrow in order to make the finals as there were three other qualifiers beyond Nigeria's Oduduru in the other heats who clocked faster times than Lyles. The New Balance Outdoor Nationals All-American last month in the 200 meter dash, Lyles will be ranked 5th fastest going into the semi-finals round and should get a better lane position than his first round race after running in the far inside in lane 1.
 |
POS | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 638 | Ejowvokoghene Divine ODUDURU |
 NGR |
21.24 Q | PB |
|
|
2 | 904 | Noah LYLES |
 USA |
21.28 q | PB |
|
|
3 | 936 | Brian KASINDA |
 ZAM |
22.12 | PB |
|
|
4 | 264 | Frederik SCHOU-NIELSEN |
 DEN |
22.34 | |
|
|
5 | 159 | Yahor PAPOU |
 BLR |
22.44 | |
|
|
6 | 441 | Ashish CHHIKARA |
 IND |
23.22 | |
|
|
7 | 378 | Tornike KVANTALIANI |
 GEO |
23.34 | |
|
|
248 | Marko KOVACEVIC |
 CRO |
DNS |
