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Lyles Pulls Up in 200m as USC's Garrett Kaalund Wins U.S. Title

The incident raises fresh questions about sprint workload and recovery as athletes prepare for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in September.

Jul 25, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins women's 200m heat in 22.50 during the USATF Championships at Icahn Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jul 25, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Noah Lyles wins 200m heat in 20.51 during the USATF Championships at Icahn Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jul 25, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins women's 200m heat in 22.50 during the USATF Championships at Icahn Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Noah Lyles pulled up with a left hamstring cramp in the 200m final and jogged to the line in last place with a time of 50.88, a finish reported on Sunday.
  • Garrett Kaalund, a 22-year-old USC athlete, seized the win in 20.04 seconds while Brandon Hicklin and Maximilian Thomas were both credited with 20.29 for second and third.
  • Earlier in the meet Lyles won the 100m in a world-leading 9.79, and he told reporters he believes the 200m issue was a cramp that will be resolved with rest, stretching and electrolytes.
  • The championships were held in an off year with no world or Olympic team spots at stake, which led some stars to skip events and opened the door for rising collegiate runners like Kaalund.
  • Attention now shifts to athlete recovery and race planning ahead of the Ultimate Championships in September and the Los Angeles 2028 build-up, with workload management likely to affect selections and season schedules.