In a thrilling display of speed and determination, Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred lit up the track at the Monaco Diamond League meet on Friday night.
American sprinter Noah Lyles made a triumphant return from injury, storming to victory in the men’s 200m with a blistering time of 19.88 seconds. Lyles edged out Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who finished a close second at 19.97 seconds.
“I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love. I come out here and I give my best,” said an elated Lyles after the race. His performance not only signaled a remarkable comeback but also served as a warning to his competitors ahead of the upcoming World Championships.
On the women’s side, St. Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred showcased her dominance in the 100m, cruising to victory with an impressive time of 10.79 seconds. She comfortably left behind American Jacious Sears, who clocked in at 11.02 seconds.
The excitement didn’t stop there. The men’s 800m was a nail-biter as Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi nearly challenged David Rudisha’s world record. Wanyonyi won the race in a world-leading time of 1:41.44, setting a new meet record. “I came prepared. I gave my best today, so I am happy with the result,” he said.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Dutch sensation Femke Bol continued her incredible winning streak, claiming victory in a world-leading time of 51.95 seconds. She comfortably surpassed American athletes Dalilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell. “Running 51 is always very special. I don’t do that every day,” Bol remarked.
Pole vault prodigy Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis of Sweden once again showcased his supremacy by clearing 6.05 meters, setting a new meet record. Although he made an ambitious attempt at breaking his own world record by attempting 6.29 meters, he concluded the night satisfied with his performance.
Other highlights included Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino narrowly defeating American Aaliyah Butler in the women’s 400m, finishing in 49.06 seconds. In the hurdles, American Trey Cunningham and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper took home victories in the men’s and women’s events, respectively.
The distance events saw Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha winning the men’s 5,000m in 12:49.46, while Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali triumphed in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:03.18.
The Monaco Diamond League meet provided a night of exceptional performances, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead in athletics.
