LAUSANNE, Switzerland, (CMC) — On a track more suited to kayaks than sprinters, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville delivered a statement performance, powering through a downpour to defeat Olympic champion Noah Lyles at the rain-soaked Athletissima Wanda Diamond League meet here on Wednesday.
Defying a flooded track and steady rain, Seville blasted to victory in a remarkable 9.87 seconds, proving his recent win over the American was no fluke.
The time was just one-hundredth of a second off his winning mark in London last month, where Lyles also finished second.
“We can perform even in hurricanes,” a triumphant Seville remarked after the race. For me, it’s just execution and to show my dominance, to separate myself from the field once again.”
For Lyles, the race was a case of what might have been. The U.S. star, building form in an injury-delayed season, suffered a disastrous start out of the blocks.
Defying a flooded track and steady rain, Seville blasted to victory in a remarkable 9.87 seconds, proving his recent win over the American was no fluke.
The time was just one-hundredth of a second off his winning mark in London last month, where Lyles also finished second.
“We can perform even in hurricanes,” a triumphant Seville remarked after the race. For me, it’s just execution and to show my dominance, to separate myself from the field once again.”
For Lyles, the race was a case of what might have been. The U.S. star, building form in an injury-delayed season, suffered a disastrous start out of the blocks.