PARIS (Reuters) – Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo clocked the fastest time in the men’s Olympic 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday, proving his intent to upset American Noah Lyles’ quest for a sprint double.
Tebogo overtook the American 100 metres champion on the bend and cruised the rest of the way unchallenged to finish in 19.96 seconds. The 27-year-old Lyles had to work hard to finish second in 20.08.
Americans Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton each won their semi-finals, Bednarek clocking 20.00 and the 20-year-old Knighton crossing in 20.09.
Rounding out the field for Thursday’s final are Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic, Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia, and Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
