by Larry Eder
The battle for the Rabat 100 meters, video courtesy of 2018 IAAF Diamond League
The Men’s 100 meters in Rabat, Morroco featured a tremendous field:
Noah Lyles, the Diamond League star of the 200 meters. In 2017, Noah won his only Diamond League foray and showed some serious wheels over 200 meters. In 2018, Noah opened the season in Doha with a 19.83 victory. Then, two weeks later, Noah won the 200 meters at Pre Classic in 19.69, setting his PB and WL. Lyles also raced Ronnie Baker at the USATF Champs, winning in 9.88, to Bakers’ 9.90, both PBs. On July 5, in Lausanne, Noah Lyles came from behind, taking a fast charging Mike Norman, and took control of the race with fifty meters to go. HIs 19.69 in Lausanne should be described how TFN spoke of 1500m ace Mike Durkin (76 Olympic team), running with “controlled agression”. Lyles’ strength? No matter how bad his start, Noah finds a way to get back into the race. HIs last fifty meters of his 200 meters is a work of art: smooth and furious, the long stride, pumping arms and focus of Lyles is something to behold. And his post and pre race dance choreography are unique. How would he fare in Rabat?
Ronnie Baker has had a fine season. First, he defeated Christian Coleman in Pre Classic 100m, in 9.78 wind aided (+2.4). Then, he defeated Coleman again in Rome in 9.93. Baker won both his round 1 (10.00), semi final (9.94) and took second in final (9.88 PB). Baker is 6-2 prior to Rabat. Baker’s strength? A strong start, and then, he takes the competition apart by putting pressure on competition, mid race, where they push too hard and Baker dominates the last 40 meters. Could Ronnie Baker take the Rabat race?
Mike Rodgers is the veteran. RunBlogRun has watched Mike since 2004. Normally, we see each other in Europe, both indoors and outdoors. Mike has raced 12 times prior to Rabat over 100 meters this season, with some strong wins. The story is this. When Mike Rodgers is on, he will try and try to break you. If he smells a weakness, he has you. This guy is like a prize fighter. Never underestimate Mike Rodgers. Would Rodgers bust the race open in Rabat?
Christian Coleman is the NCAA 100m champion in the 100m/200m. In London World Champs, Christian, after 38 races in season, took silver in the 100 meters, and was a man of few words. In the winter of 2018, Christian Coleman ran 6.37 for the 60 meters, but due to techinical issues, was not credited with breaking the WR. A month later, in Albuquerque, Christian ran 6.34 in the final, for a WL, WR, WB. Nine indoor races, Nine wins, including the USA title over 60 meters and World Indoor title and MR over 60 meters. Was Christian back?
Outdoor, Christian took some time to get moving. He needed a break. As part of a 4x100m relay in Knoxville in April, Christian Coleman may have damaged a hamstring. Coleman lost to Baker at Pre Classic on May 26, running a wind-aided 9.84, and on May 31, took fourth in another battle with Ronnie Baker, were Coleman ran 10.06. Christian, at the advice of his team, took the next five weeks to recover.
On July 13, a fine field lined up in the 100 meters. Christian Coleman and Ronnie Baker had very good starts, and the battle began. Coleman showed poise and focus and gave as well as he took. Baker was using his strength and trying to break open the race, but an obviously fit Coleman had a small lead on Baker, which he held until the finish. Noah Lyles? Noah had a very poor start, and he did not get moving until the last 20 meters, and came very close to catching the dueling sprinters, Coleman, who finished in 9.98, Baker who finished in 9.99, and Lyles, who ran 9.99. Mike Rodgers ran 10.01, and Reece Prescod, one of GBR’s finest sprinters (won Shanghai DL with a smooth finish), was fifth in 10.09.
The day belonged to Christian Coleman, who had this to say post race:
“It was a perfect night for me : good race and good time. I could not be happier. I am not so suprised to win for my first race, even with such a great field because I was very fast in practice these last days. When I was injured, I managed to maintain a good condition. Now I am gonna run in London then Birmingham.”
For sprint fans, the fine American, British, French, and South African sprinters mean that the sprint battles for this summer and dare we say, in 2019 and 2020, look to be epic!
