World Athletics Championships 2025: Noah Lyles Sets World-Leading Time in Men’s 200m Semis as Gout Gout Bows Out on Debut

Noah Lyles underlined his dominance in the men’s 200m after sprinting to a world-leading 19.51 seconds in the semifinals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday (18 September).

The American sprinter, who has been open about his quest to reclaim the title, overcame the challenge of running blind in lane seven to deliver a blistering performance that stamped him as the clear favorite heading into the final.

Full Results — Men’s 200m Semifinals

1. Noah Lyles (USA) – 19.51 Q WL (+1.0)
2. Bryan Levell (JAM) – 19.78 Q (0.0)
3. Kenneth Bednarek (USA) – 19.88 Q (-0.1)
4. Letsile Tebogo (BOT) – 19.95 Q (0.0)
5. Zharnel Hughes (GBR) – 19.95 Q (+1.0)
6. Sinesipho Dambile (RSA) – 19.97 q PB (+1.0)
7. Alexander Ogando (DOM) – 19.98 Q (-0.1)
8. Tapiwanashe Makarawu (ZIM) – 19.98 q (+1.0)
9. Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) – 20.03 (-0.1)
10. Adrian Kerr (JAM) – 20.08 PB (+1.0)
11. Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) – 20.12 (-0.1)
12. Andre De Grasse (CAN) – 20.13 SB (+1.0)
13. Christopher Taylor (JAM) – 20.21 PB (-0.1)
14. Towa Uzawa (JPN) – 20.23 (-0.1)
15. Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike (NGR) – 20.26 (+1.0)
16. Courtney Lindsey (USA) – 20.30 (0.0)
17. Henrik Larsson (SWE) – 20.32 PB (+1.0)
18. Gout Gout (AUS) – 20.36 (0.0)
19. Jerome Blake (CAN) – 20.41 (0.0)
20. Xavi Mo-Ajok (NED) – 20.55 (0.0)
21. William Reais (SUI) – 20.59 (-0.1)
22. Aaron Brown (CAN) – 20.59 (-0.1)
23. Timothé Mumenthaler (SUI) – 20.66 (0.0)
24. Ryan Zeze (FRA) – 20.73 (0.0)

While Lyles soared, Australia’s teenage sensation Gout Gout saw his promising debut come to an end. The 17-year-old Year 12 student finished fourth in his semifinal heat, clocking 20.36 seconds, just outside the two fastest non-automatic qualification spots.

It was a valiant effort, but not enough to progress further, despite his earlier 20.23 run in the heats and his 20.02 national record set earlier this year in Czechia.

Although he fell short of the final, Gout’s showing in Tokyo was an important milestone in his budding career. As the youngest competitor in the 200m event, he demonstrated maturity and promise beyond his years.

For now, he returns to Brisbane to complete his high school studies, but his emergence on the global stage suggests that this is only the beginning of a bright sprinting journey.