Clark False Starts, Lyles Seizes Opportunity In 100
Noah Lyles has big plans for the final day of competition at the New Balance Nationals.
But first the senior from T.C. Williams (VA) had to take care of business in his 100-meter race on Saturday. Splashing through puddles and a slight rainfall, Lyles powered his way victory with a nation No. 2 of 10.21 seconds. Placing second was Nathaniel Huggins of Opelika (AL), who was timed in 10.38.
“I don’t have the win until I cross that finish line in first,” Lyles said. “We were all practicing, my brother (Josephus) and I were working together powering out of the blocks. That’s the biggest thing I need to work on. It was definitely getting out of the blocks with power instead of just with quickness.”
Lyles will next step foot on the track on Sunday where he’s entered in the 200m dash, a race he’s hoping to make a little history.
“(This race) definitely boosted my confidence,” he said. “I know that my 100 and 200 transfer is never the same. It’s always faster. Just running 10.2 means I’m going to go even faster tomorrow.”
How fast?
“I am going as close as I can to 19 (seconds),” he said.
For the record, the 200m national mark is 20.13 by former world-class sprinter Roy Martin in 1985.
The girls’ 100m turned into a much closer affair with the top three finishers within .04 of each other. Sophomore Jayla Kirkland of Woodlawn (AL) emerged the victor with a personal best of 11.33. She edged Miami Northwestern (FL) senior Twanisha Terry, who crossed the line at 11.34. Senior Kate Hall of Lake Region (ME) was third in 11.37.
“It feels great, knowing that I am only a sophomore and I ran 11.33 like this,” she said. “This is awesome.”
Kirkland’s time beat her previous best by nearly half a second.
“I was hurt at the beginning of the season,” she said. “Now that I came here and ran 11.3 I feel like I am improving. My hard work is paying off.”
- Results: Girls 100m - Boys 100m
- Photos: Girls 100m - Boys 100m