Noah Lyles comes closest in 11 years to breaking Usain Bolt's 200m WR with emphatic run

Noah Lyles broke the American 200-metre record as he destroyed the field at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

Lyles ran a 19.32, which broke Michael Johnson’s 26-year-old US record by the smallest of margins.

Fellow Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton picked up the silver and bronze medals respectively to complete a clean sweep on the podium.

It completes a memorable US performance in the men’s sprints as they also achieved a 1-2-3 in Friday’s 100m, which was won by Fred Kerley.

The 25-year-old Lyles’ time was the third-quickest in history, behind Usain Bolt’s 19.19 and also Yohan Blake’s 19.26.

The race was expected to be a straight shoot-out between rivals Lyles and 18-year-old sprint sensation Knighton, but the champion blew away the field.

Lyles got off to a rapid start, before running an exceptional bend and flying down the home straight to ease to victory.

America’s dominance of the sprints means they will be heavy favourites for the 4×100 metre relay, that’s if they can get the baton round correctly, of course.

Lyles celebrated his recent win over Knighton at the US trials in June by pointing at his rival.

Knighton then walked out of his interview by claiming ‘it ain’t finished’, so Lyles’ victory will be even more the sweeter for the 25-year-old.

Following last night’s victory, Lyles told BBC Sport: “I put myself under no pressure. I came out here to give it my 100%.

“That time was always going to come once I got a start I wanted.

“My dad grew up in that era racing against Michael Johnson, and I remember the Americans sweeping everything.

“Then we had to watch the Jamaicans dominating. I said to myself, ‘when I get there, I want to make sure the USA is dominating again’.”

The result ensures