Just before the men’s 200m final event, the temperature has increased. Kenny Bednarek has raised the issue of favoritism toward the host. As per him, the hosts gave Noah Lyles Lane 5 to give him a technical advantage. However, Kenny himself received Lane 9 at the cornermost position. The sprinter couldn’t digest it. 

On X, he shared the issue: “Never seen favoritism like this on a global scale.” Meanwhile, things seem to be settled now, as Kenny is in Lane 8. Noah Lyles is still in Lane 5. Does there come any technical superiority with the lane changes? As per the veteran athlete, there may come. One Olympic medalist put a seal on it. 

Three years ago, in Tokyo, Andre De Grasse took the bronze medal in the 100m event. Eventually, he vented his emotion later, and surprisingly, it was not on pace, rather; he complained about his lane position. Just like Kenny Bednarek today, André has Lane 9. “I knew it was going to be a tough one after I drew lane nine. I didn’t have a great semifinal and I knew I had to come out and try and execute as best as I can.”  Here, the common idea says that from the cornermost position or the outside Lane ( from 7 to 9), the sprinters fail to see their competitors because of limited visibility. The situation can repeat itself in inside Lanes (1 and 2) as well. 

In those Lanes, the pertaining reason is the tightest nature of the corners. So, the middle Lanes rise to be the most effective ones to keep an eye on the opponents on both sides. Right now, Noah Lyles is in the middle Lane, and with him, another American sprinter, Erriyon Knighton, will show up in another middle Lane (Lane 6). Ultimately, the much-cherished 200m fight is expected to be limited between these two sprinters. Their performances throughout the years speak on behalf of that. 

Moreover, their best performances in the 200m event stand to be side by side, taller than the others in the pack. Apart from that, the newly enacted rules regarding lane placement prioritize the ranks of the sprinters strictly to settle at the lanes. From that perspective, the Lanes for Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Erriyon Knighton may raise some uncomfortable questions. 

In the semifinal round, Letsile Tebogo was the topper, while Kenny Bednarek followed him. Noah comes later, in the third position. So, from that perspective, Kenny’s positioning in Lane 9 was problematic. He should have been placed in any of the Lanes, 5-7, leaving a Lane for Letsile. Yet, the reality is different. Would this mistreatment boost Kenny Bednarek to go against Noah Lyles, all guns blazing? 

Noah Lyles praises Kenny Bednarek and drops something attacking 

Being an outspoken character, Noah Lyles acts like a double-edged sword. He can build and also knows how to decimate things. After claiming the gold medal in the men’s 100m, the 27-year-old sat down in the press conference, sharing tidbits on the upcoming heavy battle on track. 

He started by praising Kenny and making big revelations about him. He said, “Kenny definitely put up a fast time at trials and that definitely woke me up, I was very proud of him and he is definitely not going to take how he did here in the 100 lying down.” The reigning world champion said that his compatriot would shake all the dust from the 100m Olympic final and embrace the 200m track like nothing else. But he might face a collision. 

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Speaking on his chance, the Olympic champion conceded, “None of them is winning. When I come off the turn, they will be depressed.” Now, Kenny Bednarek’s tag on him being the ‘favorite’ might add a few more chapters to the rivalry. Let’s wait for tomorrow.