Noah Lyles Loses, Still Advances in 100m: Track & Field Day 2 Morning Recap

Noah Lyles takes second place in his heat in Round 1 of the Men's 100m at 2024 Paris Olympics. New Olympic Record in Men's Decathlon Discus event.

Aug 3, 2024 by Dan Hall

Noah Lyles Loses, Still Advances in 100m: Track & Field Day 2 Morning Recap

The second day of Olympic track & field action brought a new twist in the story arc around track and field's most recognizable star, as well a new Olympic Record in the men's decathlon Discus Throw.

Meanwhile, a top contender in the men's pole vault experienced a disappointing early exit, as Chris Nilsen failed to advance after three misses at 5.60m.

Saturday's afternoon session is set to kick off at 1:10 p.m. EST and will include four finals in the men's shot put, women's triple jump and 100m, as well as the mixed 4x400m and the decathlon 1,500m, which is the conclusion to the 10-event contest.

Noah Lyles, Other Top Contenders Challenged in Men's 100m Round 1

The men's 100m Round 1 started predictably as Jamaica's Kishane Thompson, the current world leader in the event, ran away from the field for an easy 10.00, seemingly shutting it down 50 meters into the race. Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain was disqualified for a false start.

After, Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya claimed the win in Heat 2 in 10.08, things got spicier. In a Heat 3 shocker -- NCAA 100m champion Louie Hinchliffe (9.98) of Great Britain took down American Noah Lyles (10.04). Hinchliffe's effort forced Lyles to push most of the way to the tape before shutting it down to take second.

Lyles admitted in his post-race interview with NBC that he downplayed his competitors but stated it won't happen again.

"I'm pretty scared for everyone else right now, " Lyles told NBC.

In this post-race mixed zone media availability, Lyles continued, "It was more expected that they would just fall in line, and they didn't. They took it as their chance of 'I got one shot, and I'm going to take it."

Like Lyles, defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy was bested by an NCAA star. Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi won Heat 5 in 10.02 followed by Jacobs in 10.05. Ajayi finished third in the men's 100m at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, competing for Auburn University. Jacobs had to battle all the way to the finish line to take second in the heat.

In between these two heats, Jamaica's Oblique Seville ran a solid 9.99 in Heat 4 to cruise into the Semi-Final Round.

In Heat 6, South Africa's Akani Simbine (10:03) took down Jamaica's Ackeem Blake (10:06), who finished second. Blake had a good start with a powerful first step putting Simbine under early pressure, but Simbine turned up to a higher gear to break the tape in first place.

American Kenny Bednarek dropped a 9.97 for the fastest time in the round to win Heat 7. His teammate Fred Kerley matched the performance with a 9.97 in Heat 8 for an easy win over Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (10.01) and Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes (10.03).

New Olympic Record in Decathlon Discus Throw

German Leo Neugebauer threw 53.33m on his first attempt in the discus, not far off the decathlon Olympic best in the event of 53.79m that Bryan Clay threw in 2008.

Shortly after, Lindon Victor of Grenada one-upped Neugebauer and beat the Olympic best with a throw of 53.91m, moving him from 10th to fourth in the overall decathlon standings.

With his performance, Neugebauer regained the overall lead in the decathlon. Canada's Damian Warner threw a season best of 48.68m, but it wasn't enough to maintain his decathlon lead, and he fell to second place.

The two competitors flip-flopped several times in the standings through the first seven events; however, Warner no-heighted in pole vault, the eighth event, dropping him out of contention.

With two events to go, Neugebauer holds the lead over Norway's Markus Rooth with 7,410 points to Rooth's 7,271.

Repechage Round Gives Women's 800m Runners New Life

The inaugural women's 800m repechage round gave athletes a second chance at qualifying for the Semi-Final.

Germany's Majtie Kolberg (1.59.08) ran the fastest time. Additional qualifiers were Kenya's Vivian Chebet Kiprotich, France's Anais Bourgoin, Switzerland's Valentina Rosamilia, Austrailia's Abbey Caldwell, and Cuba's Rose Mary Almanza.

American Allie Wilson ran the fifth-fastest time in the round but finished third in her heat and didn't qualify. Wilson missed advancing by .08 seconds.

Tough Day for Americans in Men's Pole Vault Qualifier

In a surprise, Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Chris Nilsen missed three times at 5.60m and did not advance to the final. Nilsen had medaled at every major championship in which he had competed previously.

American Jacob Wooten missed at 5.70 and also did not advance.

Sam Kendricks kept Team USA's medal hopes alive, clearing 5.75m to get through to the final.

World record-holder and defending Olympic gold medalist Mondo Duplantis cleared 5.75m to advance.

When Are The Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

The Olympics begin on July 26 and end on August 11. The track and field events will began on Aug. 1.

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