Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred delivered statement wins at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, just two weeks before the world championships in Tokyo. Lyles, the three-time world 200m champion, became the first track athlete to win six Diamond League Final titles by beating Letsile Tebogo of Botswana in a thrilling 200m dash. Lyles trailed Tebogo coming off the corner but reeled him in to cross the line in 19.74 seconds, winning by a narrow 0.02 seconds.
Alfred, the Olympic 100m champion, dominated the women’s 100m, cruising to victory in 10.76 seconds in her first race in over a month. She had previously withdrawn from two Diamond League meets due to injury but put concerns to rest with her dominant win. “I am surpassing the questions about my injuries,” Alfred said. “I feel like I want to add another gold in my collection.”
Other notable winners include Norwegian Karsten Warholm, who won the men’s 400m hurdles in a meet record 46.70 seconds, and Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who broke the Zurich record to triumph in the women’s 400m hurdles in 52.18 seconds
