by Larry EderThe 100 meters for men ended the Shanghai Diamong League meeting with a Great Moment! The two top American sprinters captured sports fans everywhere, as the race will be replayed tens of thousands of times on TV, You Tube, blogs, websites and on hand held devices. It was the tenth anniversary of the meeting, The crowd, from our Chinese correspondent Jeff Shaver, was “Packed stadium. Crowd primarily cheering for the Chinese athletes. A loud horn section in the upper decks went crazy for the Ethiopians during the Men’s 5000m and the Women’s 1500m”.
Everyone got into the 100m, as it had stories for the globe. Here is how I saw the race….
Christian Coleman, the 60m WR holder, photo by PhotoRun.net
The mens’ 100 meters featured Christian Coleman, 60m WR, fastest man from 2018, and Noah Lyles, fastest man at 200m in 2018, DL champ with a fine sense of humor an boisterous demeanor.
Christian is a bit more guarded, and so the two finest sprinters in the world lined up.
Noah Lyles, 2018 Diamond League champ, WL in 2018, 200m, photo by PhotoRun.net
Coleman has been working on being healthy and getting his start down. His start, when on, is furious. Coleman flies down the track, and is hard to beat. In 2018, however, Coleman was dealing with injuries and was shown to be mortal. Coleman rested, trained and focused. Lots to deal with in 2019 and 2020. Coleman is, as World and Olympic champ Maurice Greene told this writer, on a good day, capable of 9.65. AT LEAST 9.65. Remember that caveat.
Noah, in 2018, had a coming out year. Having shown some brilliant moments in 2017, Coach Lance Brauman built Noah Lyles into a healthy, fit, and confident young sprinter. Brauman knew Lyles was, healthy, one of the finest long sprinters that he has had seen. But, Brauman would not say that. He had to show Lyles how to believe in it himself. Each workout, done successfully, builds the confidence. Each race, done successfully, gives the inner voice the confidence needed for the next race.
The Shanghai DL 100 meters showed many things. One is the universality of the power of both athletics and sprinting. RSA’s Akine Simbine (PB of 9.89) is tough, and he will give no quarter, and could surprise. Reece Prescod (PB of 9.84), the fine GBR sprinter was the best European revelation in 2018, and this guy is not even doing his best distance (the 200m), yet.
Bingtian Su (9.91) of China is a rock star in his homeland. And, rightly so. I watched Bingtian Su travel last winter indoor season with his couterie of trainers, coaches, massage therapists and Chinese media. This guy’s start was much improved during the indoor season, that I am quite curious to see how he fares after a few outdoor races.
The 100m final was intense. Christian Coleman got out with a sparkling start. After 9 months of no racing, Coleman just needs some racing. He dominated the first half of the race. Akine Simbine quickly followed, with Reece Prescod just beginning to unwind those long legs.
Two lanes over, a confident Noah Lyles had, for him, a good start. He was in the hunt, during the first 50 meters.
Then, the race changed.
Noah Lyles, seemed to decide that he was going to win and began this audacious and exciting charge, about 70 meters. What is not apparrent to the naked eye is that Lyles was flying from 50 meters on, he was keying on Coleman, and sensing that he had, by 80 meters, put himself in the hunt. He had to make a big move still, and GBR’s Reece Prescod was taking in some serious real estate with his long strides.
Noah Lyles is a 200m runner. Noahr Lyles is also a 100m runner. Say that in front of his coach, and you will get a smirk, patented by Coach Brauman. Coach might tell the observer that Noah Lyles is a sprinter. Do not get into this long or short sprinting thing.
Noah Lyles’ secret sauce is his confidence. At about 80 meters, Lyles smelled possible victory. Remember, this guy loves super heroes. Lyles calls on tha inner strength that few of us have, and he demanded action.
The Men’s 100m, pick that one! Photo courtesy of Omega/IAAF.
Watch the 100m again, watch Noah Lyles will himself in front of a hard charging Christian Coleman. Both are timed in 9.86, the world leader. By the tiniest of fractions, Noah Lyles won the 100m in PB and WL of 9.86! And he did not lean worth a damn. Wonder what Coach Brauman will say about that?
Akine Simbine, the fine RSA sprinter continues to impress, was 3rd in 9.95 and Reece Prescod was 4th in 9.97. Bingtian Su was a surprising 5th in 10.05.
The 100m, Shanghai DL, May 18, 2019, courtesy of IAAF/Diamond League
And so, the 100m season of 2019 begins.
Noah Lyles was ecstatic. He told the media:
“I said to my coach in warm up “today is the day.” I feel hot. I knew if I got out of the blocks and if I was anywhere close, I knew I could come late for the win. My next race is in Rome over the 200m. Those guys (the 200m athletes) have been having fun, but now it is my time to have some fun (over 200m).”
A thoughtful Christian Coleman, already thinking about how he will make corrections, noted:
“This is my first race for nine months. It is always a struggle to get in good form after such a long time away from competition, so I didn’t have any specific expectations for today’s race. In general I am fine with 9.86 today. It was very tight between Noah and me. I am training hard and preparing for the rest of this season. My next race is the 200m in Stockholm. I am looking forward to performing better there.”
Bingtian Su, who took fifth in the 100m in 10.05, noted:
“This is my first race for nine months. It is always a struggle to get in good form after such a long time away from competition, so I didn’t have any specific expectations for today’s race. In general I am fine with 9.86 today. It was very tight between Noah and me. I am training hard and preparing for the rest of this season. My next race is the 200m in Stockholm. I am looking forward to performing better there.”
And so, the 100 meter wars are on for 2019 and 2020. Two Americans have taken the early lead.
Who will be on the podiums in Doha and Tokyo?
You saw some of them today.
But, in this sport, there is always surprises.
For today, Noah Lyles adds another PB, another win, and another bit of confidence, as Lyles and Coach Brauman build for the big races, knowing that many want those medals.
