LaShawn Merritt ran the fastest 200 meter time in the world on Friday evening, but it was two athletes who are nearly half his age that stole the show.
The 2008 Olympic champion at 400 meters, Merritt cruised to victory in heat three with a wind-legal time of 19.74 seconds. It was the fastest time by an athlete at the U.S. Olympic Trials since Michael Johnson in 1996, and faster than any athlete during the 2016 calendar year.
Still, Merritt’s feat flew relatively under the radar on Friday, as it followed breakout performances from high school seniors Michael Norman and Noah Lyles.
Norman, a high school senior from Murrieta, Calif., won the first heat of the event in 20.21 seconds — just ahead of former Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin. Minutes later, Lyles, a senior from Alexandria, Va., won the second heat in 20.26 seconds. Each of them was born in 1997; one year after Johnson set the American record that they are now chasing.
“It’s definitely an exciting moment,” Lyles said. “I’m really excited to come out here and face the big boys I’ve been watching on TV. A year ago I was watching the world championships thinking ‘dang, if I was out there, I’m definitely sure I could be doing what I’m doing right now.”
Norman finished with the fourth fastest overall qualifying time, and Lyles finished with the sixth fastest.
Ameer Webb was the only other man to go sub-20, and qualified with the second fastest time (19.97). Two-time world champion Tyson Gay finished third in qualifying with a time of 20.16 seconds. Walter Dix owns the fourth-fastest 200 time in American history, but finished 14th and did not qualify for the final.
Competing unattached, but still wearing his high school jersey, Lyles also ran in the 100 meter event on July 2, but failed to reach finals. Both Lyles and Norman won their respective state championships in the spring,
“Hell… I’ve never seen kids that young run so well under pressure.” Gay said. “It’s amazing.”
When Norman and Lyles step into the blocks for Sunday’s final, they will battle some of the top sprinters in American history for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Gay owns the fastest American 100 meter time ever, Gatlin holds the second-fastest 200 meter time and Merritt holds the fifth-fastest 400 meter time. Each is over 30 years old and potentially competing in their last Olympic Trials.
Merritt, fresh off a 200 meter personal-best, isn’t even sure if he’ll compete at Rio in the 200 should he qualify. He has mainly competed in the 400 meter throughout his career, and already picked up a gold medal and an Olympic qualifying spot in the event.
“I’m not sure yet,” Merritt said. “Still not sure yet. I’m just trying to take it a race at a time… I’ve got another race coming up to actually make the team, so I just have to stay humble, stay grounded, get some rest and come out tomorrow and do it all over again.”
The men’s 200 meter final will take place at 5:42 p.m. on Saturday.
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