Lyles storms to 200m gold; Jefferson-Wooden bags women’s sprint double at World Championships

USA’s Noah Lyles is all smiles after winning the 200m final in Tokyo on Friday. PICS/AFP

Noah Lyles pulled ahead of Kenny Bednarek heading into the straightaway then held him off down the stretch to capture his fourth title in a much-awaited 200 meters at world championships Friday night. Lyles finished in 19.52 seconds for a 0.06-second margin over Bednarek, who led the final at the halfway point, fell behind by a few steps but was closing the gap over the final footsteps.

Minutes later, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed the first women's 100-200 double at worlds since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013, winning in 21.68 seconds - a 0.46-second margin over surprise silver medalist Amy Hunt of Britain.

USA's Melissa Jefferson-Wooden celebrates with her 200m gold medal on Friday

Lyles matched Usain Bolt with four 200 titles at the world championships. Instead of exchanging glares and shoves with Bednarek - the way it happened at US nationals last month - Lyles raised up four fingers and said "That's four, baby," into the camera. Bryan Levell of Jamaica finished third and Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo was fourth.

Meanwhile, Dutchwoman Femke Bol emphatically retained her 400m hurdles world title, blazing home in 51.54sec, ahead of American Jasmine Jones and Slovakia's Emma Zapletalova.

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