{"id":3420,"date":"2019-09-05T14:45:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T14:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brussels.wdl.uat-sports.swisstiming.com\/2019\/09\/05\/new-sprint-heroes-lyles-and-norman-on-record-hunt\/"},"modified":"2019-09-05T14:45:12","modified_gmt":"2019-09-05T14:45:12","slug":"new-sprint-heroes-lyles-and-norman-on-record-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brussels.wdl.uat-sports.swisstiming.com\/en\/2019\/09\/05\/new-sprint-heroes-lyles-and-norman-on-record-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"New sprint heroes Lyles and Norman on record hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"
The bend of Brussels is well-known among sprinters. \u201cI\u2019ve only run in Brussels once, but everyone knows the reputation of that turn and the track. It\u2019s very fast,\u201d Lyles said. \u201cI start in lane seven and according to my coach that\u2019s the perfect lane. I don\u2019t want to put a number on it, but let\u2019s say I would like to beat my own personal best."<\/div>\n
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His PB is a 19:50, set in July in Lausanne. On the all-time ranking the 22-year-old American is now up to fourth place behind only Usain Bolt (19:19), Yohan Blake (19:26 in 2011 in Brussels) and Michael Johnson (19:32). \u201cI have a lot of respect for what Usain did, but I want to leave my own footprints,\u201d Lyles said. \u201cI\u2019m not going to dance or sing, although I can rap!\u201d Lyles is more known for his striking footwear, including his Japanese-themed manga socks. \u201cI am going to wear my Hero Academia socks again tomorrow.\u201d <\/div>\n
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The second fastest man on the 200 metres is Michael Norman. Early July he clocked a 19:70 in Rome. \u201cBut until the Tokyo Olympic Games I will mainly focus on the 400 metres,\u201d Norman explained ahead of Friday\u2019s IAAF Diamond League finale, where he starts as the pre-race favourite. With his 43:45 from April in Torrance he\u2019s the fastest athlete of the year. <\/div>\n
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Many insiders suggest Norman will be the next world record holder. That mens he\u2019ll have to beat the 43:03 South African Wayde Van Niekerk established at the Rio Olympic Games. \u201cI believe I have it in me. Maybe not this year, but hopefully next year,\u201d the 21-year-old American said confidently. \u201cI\u2019m definitely looking forward to tomorrow\u2019s race. Hopefully it\u2019ll stay dry and we\u2019ll get a really fast race.\u201d<\/div>\n
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One journalist asked if Norman will get company from Lyles on the 400 metres. \u201cI\u2019ll give you a hint, the first two letters of my first name,\u201d Noah Lyles joked. No 400, and no talk from him about a potential world record either. \u201cLet\u2019s first break Johnson\u2019s American record. I\u2019ll take care of the 200 metres\u201d, Lyles continued. \u201cAnd Michael [Norman] can break the 400 metre record."<\/div>\n
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Lyles and Norman will have to beat 19:32 and 43:18. Maybe they will already do so on Friday at the AG Memorial Van Damme. <\/div>\n