Olympic Men’s 100 — Lyles Lean Takes Deepest-Ever Dash

IF THE RACE HAD BEEN 99 meters, Jamaican upstart Kishane Thompson would be wearing the gold medal. But it was 100, and Noah Lyles can rightfully claim the title of the World’s Fastest Man, triumphing in the deepest dash race of all-time.

The world champion, Lyles had been the nominal favorite but the writing was on the wall: actually winning over world leader (9.77) Thompson might prove very difficult indeed. The rounds only encouraged that sentiment.

On Saturday, while rivals Thompson (10.00), Oblique Seville (9.99), Kenny Bednarek (9.97) and Fred Kerley (9.97) sailed through their heats, Lyles took 2nd to NCAA champion Louie Hinchliffe, 9.98–10.04.

Then in Sunday’s semis, Lyles produced a mediocre start and could not catch a very relaxed-looking Seville, who won 9.81 to 9.83. In semi 2, it was the Africans who impressed, Akani Simbine winning in 9.87 to Letsile Tebogo’s 9.91, while defender Marcell Jacobs (9.92) and Bednarek (9.93) got the only time qualifying spots. In semi 3, Thompson looked easy in beating Kerley 9.80 to 9.84, easing up and looking around. South African Benjamin Richardson, at 9.95, won the dubious distinction of running the fastest non-qualifier ever.

Darkness fell before the Sunday night final. The stadium lights dimmed and the light show began, accompanied by the bass thumping. The tension in the air was almost painful as the race was delayed even further, with security tackling a protester who tried to get onto the track — an incident that only a few fans noticed.

At the start, the demeanor of the 9 sprinters told a story of its own. Most simply looked nervous. Tebogo and Jacobs, in lanes 8 and 9, were inexpressive statues. Lyles put on his usual show in lane 7. And Thompson, in lane 4, looked like a guy at a bus stop mildly irritated that the No. 24 was running late.

Then the commands, Thompson the last to settle into his blocks. At the gun, Kerley had the best reaction time of 0.108. Lyles and Tebogo had the worst, at 0.178, and Thompson not much better at 0.176. Yet those numbers don’t tell the full story of a start. It was Kerley and Jacobs who got out best, the Italian leading past 20 meters before Thompson took over.

The powerfully-built Jamaican and Kerley battled in adjoining lanes while Lyles struggled at the back. It wasn’t till after halfway that he started storming past the others. Soon…