Things boiled over at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek clashed in a fiery 200m showdown, both during and after the race.
Lyles stormed to victory with a world-leading time of 19.63 seconds, passing Bednarek in the final strides. But the celebration was short-lived.
Just past the finish line, Bednarek decided to push his Team USA rival Lyles in the back and confronted him over what he felt was a blatant show of disrespect.
Their tension spilt into the post-race interview on NBC.
“I tell you, if you’ve got a problem, I expect a call,” Bednarek told Lyles as the mic was passed between them.
Lyles didn’t back down. “You know what, you’re right. You’re right. Let’s talk after this.”
The handshake they shared wasn’t enough to cool things down. Bednarek later made his feelings crystal clear.
“Like I’ve said before, Noah’s going to be Noah,” he told reporters.
“If he wants to stare me down, that’s fine. The summary is, don’t do that to me. I don’t do any of that stuff. It’s not good character right there. That’s pretty much it.
“At the end of the day, he won the race. I’ve got to give him props. He was the better man today.”
When asked what Lyles said during the staredown, Bednarek waved it off.
“What he said didn’t matter, it’s just what he did,” he said.
“Unsportsmanlike sh*t, and I don’t deal with that. It’s a respect factor. He’s fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that’s all I can say.
“Next time we line up, I’m going to win. That’s all that matters.”
Pressed on what sparked the feud, he added, “Just some personal stuff we’ve got to handle,” before cutting off further questions with, “On coach’s orders, no comment.”
Lyles was equally tight-lipped. When asked to explain his side, he simply echoed Bednarek, “On coach’s orders, no comment.”
The two sprinters will face off again at the World Championships in Tokyo on September 19. Lyles heads into the event as the reigning world champion in both the 100m and 200m.
Bednarek, who took silver in the 200m at the last two Olympics, believes he’ll be fresher, and sharper, when it matters most.
“We’ll go fresh and we’ll see what happens,” Bednarek said. “Because I’m very confident I can beat him. That’s all I can say.”
Team USA will hope Bednarek and Lyles push each other in a more positive way next time they meet.
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