Chorzów, Poland, August 16 — Finally, the rematch of the Paris 100 medalists (minus Fred Kerley, who’s now sidelined facing whereabouts charges) came at the Skolimowska Memorial in Silesian Stadium: undefeated Kishane Thompson and USATF century champ Kenny Bednarek got a chance to even the score with their Olympic conqueror, Noah Lyles. Said the Jamaican, “Paris last year was a big learning factor. I learned it is me against myself.” He won that battle here.
Despite a start that he was not happy with — yet one that outblitzed the field — the Olympic silver medalist got in front and stayed there, holding off Lyles’ late charge to take the win in 9.87 (wind 0.3) while the American ran 9.90. Bednarek never quite hit his stride and finished in 9.96, barely holding off Christian Coleman’s 9.96.
Saying, “My race today was not so good, not so bad,” Thompson added, “It is all about execution: I had problems with that, but I am finding it. The key is to find the momentum in the race and to maintain it till the end. Nobody is perfect, but I am working on improving my strengths and improving on my weaknesses.”
Karsten Warholm hadn’t raced in two months but clearly has been making progress in training. Starting in lane 8, the Tokyo Olympic champion took off at a characteristically fast clip and was never approached. He came cleanly off the final hurdle and dashed to the line in 46.28, a Diamond League record and the No. 3 performance ever. Only the ’21 Olympics gold and silver times by Warholm and Rai Benjamin are faster.
More than a second behind, NCAA champion Nathaniel Ezekiel broke the Nigerian record and caught Abderrahmane Samba before the line, 47.31 to 47.34. Chris Robinson (48.09) and Trevor Bassitt (48.37) came next.
Warholm, who was named the meet’s MVP, said, “I was a little bit surprised that it was this good. But still I knew that I was very fast in the training camps that I did. It shows that I am on the right way. To me this was a very good start to the second half of my season. I think it is promising towards Tokyo.”
Cordell Tinch continued his roll in the 110 hurdles, using a late-race drive to defeat defending world champion Grant Holloway, 13.03–13.15. Eric Edwards grabbed 3rd in 13.20.
“I competed well,” said Tinch. “My mindset this year is: I am the best. In a field like that…
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