‘It is going to be a good one’
Levell, Lyles set up massive clash in the men’s 200m final
Published:Friday | September 19, 2025 | 12:14 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
All eyes will be on the men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, today as Jamaica’s rising star, Bryan Levell, faces off against defending World champion Noah Lyles of the United States.
“It is going to be a good one,” Levell promised after his semi-final race yesterday. “Noah is a great competitor and so are the others.”
The 21-year-old Jamaican has made a stunning World Championships debut, breezing through the rounds with apparent ease. He clocked 19.84 seconds in the heats, shutting down early, then followed with a 19.78 in the semi-finals, again easing up down the stretch.
Levell explained thathe feels in good shape and is expecting a “fast time” when he challenges for the World title in the final.
“It just took a little bit more effort. Knowing that the field behind me was a really good feeling,” he said after his semi-final run.
“I’m just focused on my own lane and just run. I don’t know [what it will take in the final], but I know it’s going to be a fast time. It’s just to go home now and recover.”
Lyles, however, was emphatic in his own semi-final, laying down a blistering 19.51 seconds to stamp his authority.
Speaking after his race, he said his performance was not a response to Levell but rather to the entire world.
“It was more of a statement to everybody,” he said. “It’s saying that you’re not going to beat me off the turn for these next two races.”
Joining the medal hunt are American Kenny Bednarek, looking for redemption after a fourth-place 100m finish, and Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who has looked sharp throughout the rounds.
The final is set for today at 8:06 a.m. Jamaican time.
OTHER ACTION ON TRACK
Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald narrowly missed out on a 400 metres medal yesterday, finishing fourth in 44.28 seconds. He was in podium position coming off the final curve but was edged by Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori, who clocked 44.20.
The gold went to Busang Kebinatshipi in a world-leading 43.53, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Jareem Richards claimed silver in a national record 43.72.
In the women’s 400m, American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered one of the greatest performances in history, winning in a championship record 47.78. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic set a national record of 47.98 for silver, and Salwa Eid Naser took bronze in 48.19.
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce, the national champion, finished eighth in 49.97.
Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson is through to the men’s 800m final after setting a new national record of 1:43.72 in his semi-final, just edging the previous mark of 1:43.74.
Anderson placed third in his heat to advance, while former national champion Tyrice Taylor failed to qualify, placing seventh in his semi-final in 1:46.56.