After a heartbreak in the 100m trials final, Christian Coleman had been expected to bounce back in the 200m event. After all, the three-time world champion has a record of giving memorable performances on the big stages. Moreover, he had to settle a score against Noah Lyles as well, especially after the 100m defeat a few days ago. But, today’s morning put a red mark on Christian Coleman’s chance of featuring in the individual rounds in the French metropolis. Rather, Noah Lyles proved once again proved his superiority against the arch-rivals.

In the 200m final today, Christian Coleman claimed the fourth position with 19.89 seconds. In the reply, Noah Lyles clocked the world lead and meet record of 19.53 seconds to confirm his seat in the Paris Olympics. Apart from that, Christian Coleman remained 0.12 seconds behind the third-rank holder, Erriyon Knighton.

Coincidentally, in the heat event as well, Erriyon Knighton had defeated Christian Coleman, although it had been Erriyon’s season-debut race. That elevates the question of what worked against Christian Coleman today. 

A lack of consistency, maybe! Before coming to Hayward Field for the Olympic trials, Coleman appeared in two 200m races and in both contests, he failed to create magic. In the Miramar Invitational, he took the runner-up position but faced his defeat Kenny Bednarek – the same American sprinter who came better off against him and took the second position. In the other participating contest, the Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet, Christian Coleman went down to the fifth position against names like Zharnel Hughes and Fred Kerley. 

Last year as well, the world indoor champion was handed the sixth place in the 200m event final in the USA Championships. There as well, Erriyon Knighton and Kenneth Bednarek remained the toppers in the leaderboard. So, that shows a consistent downturn in someone who once wrote his story in the IAAF World Championships in London, by defeating Usain Bolt in the 100m event. However, his luck also played some role in his heartbreak this time. 

He appeared in both 100m and 200m trial events this time and in both cases, he had to remain satisfied with the fourth place finish, whereas Noah Lyles swept both events with record timing. So what now? Is this the climax for him to appear in the Paris Olympics? 

Noah Lyles may miss his ‘confidence boosting’ legend in Paris 

This year Noah Lyles proved his supremacy when he defeated Christian Coleman in the 60m event in the USATF Indoor Championship. Noah could say about his reigning over the outdoor events, but in the indoor event, he knew Christian Coleman as the last word. However, while he chose to talk about his motivation for the events, Noah claimed something extraordinary. 

It was all about paying respect to someone who takes pride in winning both the world indoor and outdoor championships. Meanwhile, he kept that form of utter respect and conceded, “If I hadn’t faced Christian so many times, I couldn’t have boosted my confidence enough to say, ‘I’m ready to come out here and take on everybody,’ So I thank this man truly because he is who he is.” Coleman gave a smile after listening to these words. Now, Noah might miss his mate in arms unless he decides to appear in the American relay team in Paris. 

Christian Coleman has already featured in the relay team and bears the tag of world champion. Ultimately, as per him, it will be moving toward a new day after having a bad memory. After facing the 100m defeat in trials a few days back, he said something about that perspective. 

“I know there’s so much more that I can do going forward. And so really everything I said, processing in my head, move on from it and we got more life to live”, he added there. Let that be his guide!