2022 NYC Grand Prix: Noah Lyles Storms To A 19.61 as Aleia Hobbs (10.83) Edges Sha’Carri Richardson (10.85)

By LetsRun.com
June 12, 2022

Six years after the final New York Diamond League, world-class track & field returned to Icahn Stadium at the USATF NYC Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. The star performance of the day came in the very first event of the TV window, the 110-meter hurdles, as Devon Allen stunned the track world and stormed to a 12.84 victory over world champion Grant Holloway to move to #3 all-time and come within .04 of the world record. That gets its own article here.

In other action, Sha’Carri Richardson turned heads as usual both on and off the track. Wearing an eye-catching red fishnet costume under her racing kit, she was edged in the 100 by fellow LSU alum Aleia Hobbs, who ran a US leader of 10.83 to Richardson’s season’s best of 10.85. Richardson came back though and won the 200 meters in 22.38. 

World champions Noah Lyles (19.61 in the 200) and Christian Coleman (9.92 in the 100) also impressed with victories, but Sydney McLaughlin, slated to run the flat 400, wound up scratching.

In middle distance action, Ajee’ Wilson took down Allie Wilson to win the women’s 800 in 2:00.62 while Bryce Hoppel won a tight men’s 800 in 1:45.07.

A full meet recap and analysis of the meet appears below, starting with the mid-d events.

*Full results

Men’s 800: Hoppel goes from 4th to 1st in final 50 meters

Today’s men’s 800 served as something of a USA preview as all three 2021 Olympians were in the field: Clayton Murphy, Isaiah Jewett, and Bryce Hoppel. In the end it was Hoppel who got the victory in typical Hoppel style, closing well on the outside to move from 4th to 1st over the final 50 meters.

Jewett, as he likes to do, took the lead early and led at the halfway mark as the pacer towed the field through in 50.36. At that point, Jewett had six meters on Murphy in second and it was starting to look like last year’s Olympic Trials final, where Jewett used a bold run from the front to make the team. His lead was even bigger at 600 (1:17.04), around eight meters, as Erik Sowinski (racing and not pacing) moved into second entering the final turn. Mexican Olympian Tonatiu Lopez joined him and those two worked to bridge the gap to Jewett with Murphy and Hoppel just behind.

Jewett still led off the turn but was starting to tie up and Lopez passed him midway down the home straight. But Hoppel, who was just 5th with 110 to go, was closing even harder in the outside of lane two and moved by Lopez to get the win, thanks to an unofficial 26.5 final 200.

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Bryce HOPPEL USA 01:45.07
2 Jesus Tonatiu LOPEZ MEX 01:45.16
3 Erik SOWINSKI USA 01:45.50
4 Clayton MURPHY USA 01:45.62
5 Ryan SÁNCHEZ PUR 01:45.72
6 Isaiah JEWETT USA 01:45.87
7 Rajay HAMILTON JAM 01:46.16
8 Wesley VÁZQUEZ PUR 01:47.38
9 Josh HOEY USA 01:47.52
10 Shane STREICH USA 01:48.26
Robert DOWNS USA DNF

Quick Take: This was a good win for Hoppel, but USAs remains wide-open

Last year, seven American men ran 1:45.00 or faster in the 800 meters. This year, none have done that – Brandon Miller’s 1:45.09 to finish 3rd at NCAAs for Texas A&M is the 2022 US leader. The US has plenty of talent in Murphy, World Indoor medalist Hoppel, and World Outdoor champion Donavan Brazier, but no American has put down a signature performance yet this outdoor season.

Today was an opportunity for someone to do that, and though Hoppel looked good and has to be happy with the win, no one will look at his win today and think he’s unbeatable. The biggest development in this race may have been Jewett, who had been awful this outdoor season so far (he had yet to break 1:47 in three races) but looked much better today. He slowed over the final 100, but running 1:45.87 is a big step forward, even though he only finished 6th.

The results from today give us a hint as to what might happen at USAs, but only a hint. Remember, Clayton Murphy ran 1:47 in his final 800 before the Trials last year and wound up a dominant champion. A championship final after three rounds in four days is a lot different from a one-off race like this.

Quick Take: Don’t sleep on Erik Sowinski

The 32-year-old Sowinski is better known these days as one of the world’s top pacemakers – he’s already rabbitted 18 races in six countries in 2022. But today’s run – 1:45.50 for 3rd – is a reminder that he can still finish races as well. He’ll be a dark horse to make the team heading into USAs in Eugene.

Women’s 800: Ajee’ wins battle of the Wilsons

In a matchup between the third- and fourth-fastest women in the world this year, American Ajee’ Wilson got the win over compatriot Allie Wilson in the women’s 800, running 2:00.62 to Allie Wilson’s 2:00.80 as Sage Hurta was third in 2:01.41.

At age 27, Wilson has realized that her old front-running style may not work against the likes of Athing Mu so she purposefully went out mid-pack in this one. At 400, she was only the 5th or 6th racer in about 60-flat. At 600 (roughly 1:30.4), she was third and tracking Allie Wilson before going by her about midway down the homestretch.

“We’re just trying different things out,” Ajee’ Wilson said. “You have to kind of be used to running from anywhere in the pack so that’s something we are trying out this season.”

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Ajee WILSON USA 02:00.62
2 Allie WILSON USA 02:00.80
3 Sage HURTA USA 02:01.41
4 Chrisann GORDON-POWELL JAM 02:01.82
5 Brenna DETRA USA 02:02.31
6 Samantha WATSON USA 02:02.45
7 Brooke FELDMEIER USA 02:03.41
8 Danae RIVERS USA 02:03.64
9 Kaela EDWARDS USA 02:04.01
10 Olivia BAKER USA 02:06.11
Jazmine FRAY JAM DNF

Sprints

Women’s 100: Hobbs wins in her first pb since 2017

All eyes were on Sha’Carri Richardson in this one, especially once she showed up to the start line wearing bright red fishnet stockings under her Nike uniform. But it was another former LSU NCAA champ who got the win in the women’s 100 as 2018 NCAA/US champ Aleia Hobbs won it in a US-leading 10.83 seconds. Richardson was close to Hobbs throughout but could never quite hit top gear and had to settle for second in a season’s best of 10.85 (#2 in the US, #5 in the world this year).

This was a big run for Hobbs. Last year, she was DQ’d for a false start in the semis of the Olympic Trials only to be reinstated at the last minute and as a result only finished 6th in the final. This year she had run in the 10.8s twice, but neither was wind-legal. Today the wind was a friendly +1.3 and Hobbs took advantage to run 10.83 – her first pb since running 10.85 as a 21-year-old in 2017.

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Aleia HOBBS USA 10.83
2 Sha’Carri RICHARDSON USA 10.85
3 Teahna DANIELS USA 10.99
4 Cambrea STURGIS USA 11
5 Briana WILLIAMS JAM 11.11
6 Mikiah BRISCO USA 11.16
7 Ashanti MOORE JAM 11.18
8 Kiara PARKER USA 11.18
9 Dezerea BRYANT USA 11.19

Men’s 100: Coleman Wins in 9.92

Christian Coleman’s comeback from his 18-month missed tests ban picked up some major steam as he broke 10.00 for the first time he won the world title on September 28, 2019.

Coleman got off to his normal good start. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, the 20-year-old who broke 10.00 by running 9.92 at Music City a week ago, was never too far behind from start to finish but Coleman was the winner in 9.92 to Blake’s 9.95.

“The whole goal today was just to try to execute a good race and build some momentum going into USAs. I’m happy to come out with a win and happy to be healthy too, so I’m excited,” said Coleman.

Rank Name Nat Reaction Result
1 COLEMAN ChristianUSA 0.13 9.92 SB
2 BLAKE Ackeem JAM 0.152 9.95 PB
3 BRACY Marvin USA 0.123 10.03 SB
4 WILLIAMS Kendal USA 0.145 10.09
5 YOUNG Isiah USA 0.144 10.18
6 KEMP Demek USA 0.136 10.28 SB
7 RATTRAY KevaunJAM 0.143 10.52 SB
8 MARCANO Andre TTO 0.15 10.9 SB
RODGERS Michael USA DNS

Women’s 100 hurdles: Johnson keeps winning

The dream season of unsponsored Alaysha Johnson, who ran 12.70 while in college in 2018 but hadn’t broken 12.92 since then until this year, continued today as she won in a pb and meet record time of 12.40 (+2.0). In four outdoor races this year, Johnson has run 12.50 (+2.6), 12.50 (+0.3), 12.59 (-0.6) and now 12.40 (+2.0) won all four.

Final, Wind: +2.0
PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Alaysha JOHNSON USA 12.4
2 Tia JONES USA 12.53
3 Gabriele CUNNINGHAM USA 12.56
4 Chanel BRISSETT USA 12.66
5 Andrea Carolina VARGAS CRC 12.9
6 Christina CLEMONS USA 13.02
7 Payton CHADWICK USA 13.03
8 Paola VAZQUEZ PUR 13.29

Women’s 200: Richardson wins after doubling back

72 minutes after running 10.85 to finish second in the 100, Sha’Carri Richardson returned to race the 200 and took the win in 22.38. This was supposed to be a showdown with US champ and Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas, but Thomas withdrew from the meet with a leg issue, leaving Richardson as the favorite. She took care of business, to the delight of the NYC fans.

“It feels peaceful,” Richardson said of her recent return to the track after going MIA earlier this spring. “It feels fulfilling. I’m glad that I make the fans happy being back but it feels so much better being back and whole within myself, my mind, my heart, my spirit. And I just want to continue to just thrive – that’s all.”

Richardson was in a very upbeat mood as she spoke with NBC’s Lewis Johnson and said she’s running with confidence right now.

“The confidence in myself came from seeing how much I love I have, I can give, I receive and how much inspiration I put out there to the world. That even within the short period of my career has inspired others, makes me give myself that courage, makes me give myself that confidence to go out there and just show that I am, that I am the sun, I am the sunshine.”

She was also asked about her decision to wear fishnet stockings on her arms and legs for today’s race and said she wanted people to know that it’s okay to be themselves.

“If that means you want to be sexy, if you want to be cute, if you just want to express yourself in ways that nobody has before, don’t let that stop you because you feel like there is one way to do something – NO,” Richardson said. “As long as you have the mindset for it, the confidence and the belief in your mind and spirit, nothing will stop you.”

Final, Wind: +1.7
PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Sha’Carri RICHARDSON USA 22.38
2 Tamara CLARK USA 22.62
3 TyNia GAITHER BAH 22.66
4 Morolake AKINOSUN USA 22.82
5 Kortnei JOHNSON USA 22.93
6 Anglerne ANNELUS USA 23.2
7 Destiny SMITH-BARNETT USA 23.54

Men’s 200: Noah Lyles runs 19.61

Noah Lyles was relaxed and in a good mood before this one. How do we know? Because he was mic’d up and repeatedly making appearances on the NBC broadcast while warming up. After the race, he was in an even better mood as he blew away the field, winning in 19.61 (+1.3) as Kyree King was way back in second in 20.02.

It was a little bit surprising that after the race it appeared that Lyles told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that he’d run the 200 at USAs even though he has a bye into Worlds.

“I’m obviously in shape. My goal coming out here was to do more 200s. That’s my goal at US championships, by the time we get to world championships, it’s over, it’s already cemented. We’re just going to have fun,” said Lyles.

Lyles giving up on the 100 isn’t a total shock and jives with something he said while warming up. 

 

“I decided, you know what? I’m not going to bother with this (working on my start in the 100). I’ll just practice the new start in a comfortable situation — in the 200 — and Ill just do that until Worlds,” said Lyles.

Final, Wind: +1.3
PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Noah LYLES USA 19.61
2 Kyree KING USA 20.02
3 Brandon CARNES USA 20.07
4 Elijah MORROW USA 20.56
5 Samson COLEBROOKE BAH 20.74
6 Christopher BELCHER USA 20.95

Women’s 400: McLaughlin DNSs and Irby wins

The biggest news came before this race started when it was announced the 400 hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin would not run. In her absence, the race was there to be taken and the winner ended up being 2018 NCAA outdoor champ Lynna Irby who only managed 51.38. Kyra Jefferson was second 51.54, wiIth 2018 NCAA indoor champ Kendall Ellis third in 51.68.

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Lynna IRBY USA 51.38
2 Kyra JEFFERSON USA 51.54
3 Kendall ELLIS USA 51.68
4 Kaylin WHITNEY USA 52.53
5 Brittany AVENI USA 52.58
6 Chloe ABBOTT USA 53.08
7 Amanda CRAWFORD GRN 54.55

Men’s 400: Terry edges Francis

The winning time in the men’s 400 wasn’t quite as fast as some of the other events on Sunday, but it produced one of the best finishes of the meet as Tyler Terry – an Olympic Trials semifinalist for LSU last year – just held off a fast charging Javon Francis of Jamaica and won in 45.70 to Francis’ 45.73.

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK
1 Tyler TERRY USA 45.7
2 Javon FRANCIS JAM 45.73
3 Derrick MOKALENG RSA 46.55
4 Noah WILLIAMS USA 46.76
5 Machel CEDENIO TTO 46.9
6 Myles PRINGLE USA 48.35

Women’s 400 hurdles: Woodruff wins it

Gianna Woodruff, who finished 7th in last year’s Olympic final, was the class of the field in this one, winning comfortably in a season’s best of 54.35 to defeat Colombia’s Melissa Gonzalez (54.98).

PLACE NAME NAT. MARK

1 Gianna WOODRUFF PAN 54.35
2 Melissa GONZALEZ COL 54.98
3 Shiann SALMON JAM 55.28
4 Tia-Adana BELLE BAR 55.9
5 Cassandra TATE USA 56.06
6 Valeria CABEZAS CARACAS COL 58.71
7 Andrea FOSTER GUY 01:00.4

Men’s 400 hurdles: Quincy Hall stays hot

The fine form of 2019 NCAA champ Quincy Hall continued as he got the win in 48.75. It was Hall’s 4th 400 hurdles race of the year and his fourth straight sub-49 clocking on the year after he didn’t break it at all in 2021. He said he wasn’t focused on time, just having run in the midst of a big training block.

Thanks to his 48.10 at Pre, Hall is the co-#3 in the world this year.

Rank Name Nat Date of Reaction Results
1 HALL Quincy USA 0.2 48.75
2 LATTIN Amere USA 0.153 49.67
3 BAILEY JR Aldrich USA 0.157 49.94
4 KENDZIERA David USA 0.17 50.29
5 CLARKE Andre JAM 0.171 51.176 TATUM Malcum USA 52.42

Field events

Men’s triple jump: Thomas takes it

World Indoor bronze medalist Donald Thomas edged two-time Olympic silver medalist Will Claye in this one as both men made their best jumps in round five. Thomas got out to 16.81 meters as Claye went 16.75 – even though Claye had a much bigger tailwind on their respective attempts (+2.1 compared to Thomas’ +0.2).

Men’s Triple Jump

Women’s shot put: Ramsey goes big on final throw

Reigning US champ Jessica Ramsey already had the win sewn up heading into her final attempt of the competition but took it anyway and was rewarded with her best throw of the day, 18.90 meters, well beyond her 18.49 from round three.

Women’s Shot Put