World champion Noah Lyles secured victory in the 100m at the US Olympic trials, earning his spot for the upcoming Games in Paris.
Lyles, who missed the 100m event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after finishing seventh in the trials, matched his personal best with a time of 9.83 seconds in Eugene, Oregon.
Kenny Bednarek, finishing second with a time of 9.87, and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Fred Kerley, placing third with 9.88, also qualified for the Games.
“Three years ago I got second to last. This year I came and won it,” said Lyles, who ran a wind-assisted 9.80 in the semi-finals.
“Part of the plan. Nothing changed. Might be a shock to everybody else, but when you know the goal, you know the goal.”
Lyles’ 200m bronze in Tokyo remains his only Olympic medal.
“If I didn’t get that third place in Tokyo, I wouldn’t have had that desire. I wouldn’t have had that fire burning. I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have accomplished in the past,” he said.
“Now we constantly look to the future with open eyes because anything can happen.”
2019 world champion Christian Coleman missed qualification after finishing fourth. Sam Kendricks set a meet record by clearing 5.92m to win the pole vault.
In the 400m, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson broke his own under-18 world record with a time of 44.59, winning his semi-final.
The Olympics will take place from 26 July to 11 August, with the men’s 100m final scheduled for 4 August.