USA Track and Field Championships 2026: Garrett Kaalund surprises for 200m victory as Noah Lyles stops mid-race
Garrett Kaalund has claimed an unexpected victory in the men’s 200m at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships in New York City on Sunday (26 July), as favorite Noah Lyles pulled up and stopped mid-race.
Kaalund, just 22, won the NCAA indoor title for the University of Southern California earlier this year, and becomes the first collegiate man to win a U.S. 200m since 2008, going 20.04 for the title.
“It’s kind of crazy,” a grinning Kaalund told reporters after his win. “I never expected to become a national champion in my entire career. This is very shocking… but I’m going to work even harder 1785105370.”
Brandon Hicklin and Maximilian Thomas went two-three in a photo finish, both clocking a 20.29.
Lyles told reporters that his halting was all precautionary – the 29-year-old feeling especially spent after claiming a third career national 100m title on Friday (24 July), winning in 9.79 to equal a career-best time and running over four days.
“I got around the turn, and my (lower) hamstring was hurting,” Lyles said about why he stopped.
“I grabbed on it, and (said), ‘Yeah, there’s no reason to keep pushing it.’ So I decided to cut it off.”
Lyles said he doesn’t regret trying to do the 100- and 200-double over the weekend, but that he had maxxed his body out. It’s a good test, he said, for the coming LA 2028 Olympics.
“I wanted to push myself to make sure that I knew what it felt like to get up the next day and run,” he added. “Because if this happens at the Olympics, I need to be ready for it.”
Lyles was attempting a sixth U.S. title in the 200m, the four-time world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist in this race an American winner in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
