EUGENE (Oregon): World champion Noah Lyles schooled youngster Erriyon Knighton in winning the men’s 200m in 19.67sec at the US athletics championships on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Knighton, who stunned the athletics world with a time of 19.49sec in May, held a commanding lead coming off the curve but Lyles remorselessly chased him down, playfully pointing a finger in Knighton’s direction as they barrelled across the line.

“I do what it takes to win,” said Lyles — who insisted he was pointing not at Knighton but at the clock. “Erriyon got the best of me on the turn -- I wasn’t worried about it. I said I’m going to catch him. I’m going to take the rest of this 100 and that’s what I did.”

Knighton finished second in 19.69 and Fred Kerley, who posted times of 9.76 and 9.77 on the way to a 100m victory on Friday, was third in 19.83 to nab the third berth for the World Championships, which will be held on the same Hayward Field track in Eugene on July 15-24.

Abby Steiner continued her upward trajectory in the women’s 200m, improving her own world-leading time with a victory in 21.77sec. Tamara Clark was second in 21.92 and Tokyo relay silver medallist Jenna Prandini came third in 22.01.

Olympic bronze medallist Gabrielle Thomas, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, finished last and 2019 world silver medallist Brittany Brown finished fifth. Fan-favourite Sha’Carri Richardson failed to advance to the final after coming up short in the 100m as well.

In the 110m hurdles, world leader Devon Allen secured his spot by the skin of his teeth, clinching third by three thousandths of a second, in 13.09. Daniel Roberts won in 13.03 and Trey Cunningham was second in 13.08, while reigning world champion Grant Holloway opted out of the final.

Olympic champion Athing Mu took control early and survived a challenge from twice world bronze medallist Ajee Wilson down the final stretch to win the women’s 800m in 1:57.16. Wilson finished seven hundredths of a second behind Mu, with Raevyn Rogers third in 1:57.96.

World and Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist Rai Benjamin stormed to victory in a world-leading 47.04 ahead of Trevor Bassitt and Khallifah Rosser.

Four-time world champion and twice Olympic gold medallist Christian Taylor, whose plans for Tokyo were derailed by a torn Achilles tendon, finished fifth in the triple jump but will advance to the worlds as defending champion. World indoor bronze medallist Donald Scott won with a leap of 17.07m, with Will Claye second and Chris Benard third.

World indoor silver medallist Chase Ealey won the women’s shotput with a world-leading 20.51m, with Adelaide Aquilla and Jessica Woodard taking second and third.

World indoor bronze medallist Bryce Hoppel clinched the men’s 800m in 1:44.60.

World silver medallist Emma Coburn won the steeplechase, while Courtney Wayment and Tokyo silver medallist Courtney Frerichs also booked their spot at the world championships.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022