Noah Lyles gets set for the final of the men’s 200 meters on Day 9 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene. Lyles won the event.

Noah Lyles wins the men's 200-meter final during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Noah Lyles reacts after winning the men’s 200-meter final on Day 9 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Noah Lyles reacts after winning the men’s 200-meter final on Day 9 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Noah Lyles poses for a photo next to a model replica of the Eiffel Tower after winning the men’s 200-meter final on Day 9 of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Noah Lyles celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter final during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Noah Lyles celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter final during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Noah Lyles (center) celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter final with runner-up Kenny Bednarek (right) and Erriyon Knighton (left) during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Eugene. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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EUGENE — Noah Lyles continued his domination of the men’s sprints Saturday in the U.S. Olympic trials at Hayward Field.

Lyles fought past Kenny Bednarek on the home straight of the men’s 200 final to win the race in a meet-record time of 19.53 seconds before 12,175. The record of 19.66 had been held by the great Michael Johnson since 1996.

Bednarek, who battled Lyles over the final 60 meters, came in second in 19.59. Erriyon Knighton placed third in 19.77.

Former Oregon star Kyree King was in the picture at the finish line. He finished fifth in 19.90. Christian Coleman was fourth.

Lyles began the race with a plan, but early in the race he had to improvise.

“Kenny got a great start,” Lyles said. “The plan actually was to swallow him up in the first 50 meters. He was making sure that job wasn’t accomplished. I felt he was definitely working on something. I guess that was it.”

So, Lyles shifted gears on the straight.

As he explained it: “I was like, ‘All right. Don’t panic. I’ve been here many times before. We’re going to get to the last 80. He’s going to fall. And I’m going to get past him.’ That’s what happened.”

Well, not exactly. Bednarek stayed on his feet, but he did start to tie up late in the race.

He said he felt it begin to happen and all he could do was say, “Oh (expletive).”

Still, making a second consecutive Olympic team isn’t a bad day’s work. Bednarek will compete in Paris in both the 100 and 200.

“I can show the USA my talents and show the world what I have in store for them,” Bednarek said. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve always dreamed about running the 100 and 200 and trying to be one of the best people on earth. And I have the opportunity to do that.”

It wasn’t as if Bednarek had a substandard race. He also bettered Johnson’s 28-year-old record and recorded a personal best.

“Mostly, it was just get out and don’t look back,” Bednarek said. “That’s what I did. The first half of the race was great. The second half was just little things I have to fix, don’t tighten up and I’m good.”

Knighton, already a two-time world championships medalist at the age of 20, felt fortunate just to be in Eugene. He tested positive in March for the performance enhancer trenbolone. He contended the positive test was triggered by eating contaminated meat.

He wasn’t cleared to compete until just before the trials. But if Knighton was rusty when he arrived in Eugene, it wasn’t obvious.

He insisted he is competing with a clear conscience.

“In my heart I never did nothing wrong,” he said. “I’ve always been a clean athlete. For this to be my first meet back out, it’s a relief that I made the team. I’m always grateful to step on the track.”

He said he had continued to train after his positive test.

“Everything was going smooth,” he said. “I was just waiting for my time to run.”

Here are results from the Olympic trials.

-- Ken Goe for The Oregonian/OregonLive

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