Noah Lyles with third-fastest all time, Omanyala with African record in 150m distance

© Copyright – 2023 – Athletics Illustrated

Americans Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton went 1-2, while Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala finished third while setting the African best over the 150m distance — an ineligible event for official records. They raced at the Atlanta City Games, Saturday evening.

Omanyala finished in 14.89 seconds, Lyles clocked 14.56 for the win, while Knighton took second in 14.85.

14.56s!!🔥🔥

Noah Lyles 🇺🇲 wins the men's 150m at the adidas Atlanta City Games in a new PB of 14.56s, ahead of Erriyon Knighton 🇺🇲 in 14.85s (PB).

Ferdinand Omanyala 🇰🇪 was 3rd in 14.89s, a new African Record! pic.twitter.com/Xa0JouTzVa

— oluwadare (@Track_Gazette) May 7, 2023

Omanyala, the Commonwealth Games and African 100m champion was leading through 100m before Lyles, who is the reigning two-time World 200m champion, took over with a powerful finish.

The former African best was 14.99 by Namibian Frankie Fredericks. This performance adds to his African 100m record of 9.77 achieved at the 2020 Kip Keino Classic. This race was a tune-up for the 2023 Kip Keino Classic. The Fredericks record was run on a 400m track with a bend, while the Atlanta sprint was on a straight 150m run.

Fredricks set the 150m best during the 1993 World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. There, he won the 200m title in a championships record time of 19.85.

*Featured image credit:

Noah Lyles, OLY @LylesNoah

Men’s 150m Final 1, Wind: +0.3