Kenny Bednarek shoves winner Noah Lyles after spicy 200M final at USATF National Championships

Noah Lyles edged rival Kenny Bednarek in a spicy 200-meter final at the USATF national championships Sunday that concluded with Bednarek shoving Lyles in the back. 

After the race's conclusion, tension between the pair carried over into a post-race interview with NBC.

The high-stakes matchup was the latest between the two world-class sprinters. Lyles is a three-time world champion (2019, 2022, 2023) in the event and defeated Bednarek at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials ahead of the Paris Games. 

But Bednarek got the best of Lyles in Paris with a silver-medal finish ahead of Lyles' bronze-medal effort that denied him double Olympic gold after Lyles was victorious in the 100 meters. Lyles later revealed that he ran the 200 meters in Paris while sick with COVID-19. 

Bednarek, meanwhile, has been the dominant male sprinter on the circuit this year and was undefeated in the event in 2025 — until Sunday. 

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Look leads to shove leads to words

Bednarek got the early jump in Sunday's final before Lyles ran him down from behind on the straightaway. Lyles passed Bednarek late to cross the finish line first with a time of 19.63 seconds for his fifth U.S. championship in the event. Bednarek settled for the silver medal with a time of 19.67 seconds. 

As they crossed the finish line, Lyles gave Bednarek a look from his place one lane to Bednarek's right. Bednarek responded with a shove in Lyles' back.

Lyles turned around with his arms raised and a few words for Bednarek. Bednarek extended his hand that Lyles begrudgingly accepted for a handshake before an extended exchange of words. Spectators at Eugene, Oregon's Hayward Field collectively gasped when they saw the slow-motion replay of Bednarek's shove.

Then came the post-race interview of both runners with NBC. The tension was still fresh, and the runners were hashing things out in the range of NBC's camera and microphone before the interview commenced.

"You're right, Lyles said to Bednarek.

"I expected a call," Bednarek responded. "I'm telling you, if you've got a problem, I expected a call. That's all I'm saying. 

"You know what? You're right," Lyles responded. "Let's talk after this."

Bednarek then addressed Lyles' late-race look when asked about it. 

"I'm not gonna say it out here," Bednarek said. "But we've got something to do and talk about. That's all I've got to say."

The two have several weeks to work things out before they meet again. With Sunday's results, each earned spot in Tokyo for the World Championships. They'll both be among the favorites to win the 200-meter championship that's slated to be run on Sept. 19. 

They'll also have a chance to meet in the 100 final in Tokyo. Bednarek secured gold in the U.S. 100-meter final on Friday. Lyles did not compete, but has a bye into Tokyo as the reigning world champion in the event.