Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson each advanced to the 100m semifinals at the Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships on Thursday.
Lyles, the 2024 Olympic 100m gold medalist, ran 9.97 seconds to win his first-round heat at Icahn Stadium in New York City, which is hosting nationals for the first time since 1991.
Also winning heats were 2019 World champion Christian Coleman (9.96) abc 2025 U.S. champion Kenny Bednarek (10.04).
Richardson, the 2024 Olympic 100m silver medalist, clocked 10.90, the fastest time of the women’s first round.
The men’s and women’s 100m semifinals and final are both Friday night, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
The Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships air on Peacock and NBC Sports.
Lyles and Bednarek, the two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist, are likely headed for a showdown in Friday’s 100m final.
In 2025, Lyles overtook Bednarek in the U.S. 200m final by four hundredths, a finish that included a stare and a shove.
A different man won the 100m at the last six nationals, the most parity in the event since Carl Lewis won the first of his five crowns in 1981. Lyles, the last two U.S. 100m champions, can break that trend.
Lyles, who skipped the 100m at the 2025 U.S. Championships, beat Bednarek in their last seven head-to-heads in 100m finals, according to Tilastopaja.info.
Richardson can become the second woman to win three U.S. 100m titles since 2000 after Carmelita Jeter.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the 2025 U.S. and world champion in the 100m, is racing strictly the 200m this weekend.
The USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships continue later Thursday, highlighted by the women’s and men’s 10,000m finals at 7:35 and 8:12 p.m. ET.
Cooper Lutkenhaus races at the USATF Outdoor Championships this week, live on NBC Sports and Peacock.
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