Track and Field World Championships: Lyles and De Grasse pass in the 200m halves, not the French Fall

Doha (AFP)

The Doha World Cup's 200m favorites, Noah Lyles of the US, Andre De Grasse of Canada and defending Turkish defender Ramil Guliyev easily qualified for the 200-meter semi-finals on Sunday, while the Frenchman Mouhamadou Fall was eliminated in the playoffs.

Lyles, 4th overall performer (19 sec 50), finished 2nd in her heat in 20 sec 26, Fall finishing 4th (20 sec 63).

"I just tried to stretch my legs, I felt like they were racing during the race, I said to myself + we calm our legs, we have two more laps left + I thought I would be more tired, but I feel very good, "said Lyles.

De Grasse, Olympic silver medalist on the distance and back in the foreground after two years of injury, won his series in 20 sec 20. Guliyev finished 2nd in his series (20 sec 27) behind British Adam Gemili (20 sec 06).

The semi-finals will be held on Monday and the final is scheduled for Tuesday.

© 2019 AFP