DL Final Men’s 200 — Bednarek Handles Tebogo

IT’S AN OFT-USED cliché in sports, “putting it all together,” but there is no better description of how Kenny Bednarek upset the Olympic champion to win the DL 200. The Wisconsin native has been burning his turns crisp of late, but the difficulty came in staying relaxed and fast enough on the straight to hold off Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who had come out on top in every one of their 5 career encounters over the half-lap.

This final race of the season played out differently. Paris silver medalist Bednarek started in lane 6, Tebogo in 7, Alexander Ogando in 8. Erriyon Knighton, the Olympic 4th-placer, was a late scratch.

Bednarek got out well and swiftly transitioned into full-tilt racing on the curve, something he does perhaps better than anyone. Entering the straight, he had a modest lead over Tebogo and many expected the African to pull ahead. Not so this time. As Tebogo lifted into his late-race drive, Bednarek remained ahead and gained even more in the closing steps.

He hit the line in 19.67 with a 0.7 wind, a solid performance in the cool weather (60F/15C). It was his first win since the Pre Classic. For Tebogo, it was the first loss since Courtney Lindsey nipped him at the line of an April race in Kenya. Ogando got 3rd in 19.97, with Lindsey edging Fred Kerley, both at 20.21.

“I think execution-wise I did what I needed to do and I’m happy with the performance,” said Bednarek. “This year I shocked a few people with how fast I was running…This season people saw a glimpse of what I can do. It’s not a breakout year, this is something that I was supposed to be doing. Next year I will even be faster and more dangerous.”

Jeff Hollobaugh is a writer and stat geek who has been associated with T&FN in various capacities since 1987. He is the author of How To Race The Mile. He lives in Michigan where he can often be found announcing track meets in bad weather.