Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, and Kenny Bednarek cruised to the men’s 100m semifinal at the Paris Olympics. Kerley and Bednarek won their respective heats with Noah Lyles finishing second in his heat.
Chasing history at the Paris Olympics, Lyles was stunned in his first races as he was forced to finish second in 10.04. Great Britain’s Louie Hinchcliffe won the race in 9.98 seconds as South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi sealed the podium in 10.06 seconds.
In round one of the men’s 100m at the Paris Olympics, Kenny Bednarek, competing in heat seven, looked comfortable as he took an easy 9.97 seconds win. Emmanuel Eseme and Andre de Grasse finished second and third in impressive times of 9.98 and 10.07, respectively.
Fred Kerley, competing in heat eight, stunned Letsile Tebogo and Zharnel Hughes to take the crown. Kerley clocked a stunning 9.97 to edge out Tebogo to second place in 10.01 as Hughes, the world 100m bronze medallist, completed the podium in 10.03.
The American trio now shifts focus to the semifinal of the men’s 100m where they also face an uphill task owing to the quality of the fields assembled.
The semifinal is scheduled for Sunday, August 4 at 2:05 pm ET (8:05 pm local time) while the men’s 100m final is scheduled for Monday, August 5 at 3:50 pm ET (9:50 pm local time).
Noah Lyles will begin the campaign as he has been placed in heat one against Oblique Seville, Emmanuel Esema, and Shaun Maswanganyi among other top sprinters.
Heat two of the semifinal will have Bednarek going up against Tebogo, Jacobs and Simbine. Kerley headlines heat three of the semifinal as he takes on Omanyala, Hughes, and Andre De Grasse.
All track events at the Paris Olympics are taking place on the purple track at the Stade de France.
Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, and Kenny Bednarek chase history for US at Paris Olympics 2024
The Olympic Games only come once in four years and the event in Paris is yet another opportunity for Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, and Kenny Bednarek to chase history in the men’s 100m.
Lyles, Bednarek, and Kerley secured slots to represent the US at the Paris Olympics following their dominant displays at the U.S. Olympic trial.
The triple world champion claimed the win at the Hayward Field in Eugene, clocking an impressive 9.83 as Bednarek came in second with a personal best time of 9.87 seconds. Former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Kerley completed the podium in 9.88.
The trio is now chasing history at the Paris Olympics, hoping to reclaim the title that was won last at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Justin Gatlin saved the day in the 2004 showpiece, but since then, the US has struggled to live up to the billing on the Olympic stage.
Usain Bolt won the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, with Marcell Jacobs claiming the win at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.