SHANGHAI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- World junior champion Noah Lyles produced a shining performance on the senior stage when he clinched the men's 200m with a world leading time at the 2017 Shanghai Diamond League here on Saturday.
Lyles, 19, beat fellow American and Rio Olympics 400m bronze medalist LaShawn Merritt to win the sprint in 19.90 seconds.
"I'm very excited. I spoke to my coach before the race and he told me to work on my positions which I managed to do," said the Nanjing Youth Olympics champion. "I come off running a good indoor season and at World Relays. The expectation for the rest of the season is to focus on the 200m -- I think that is my strong suit."
Merritt clocked 20.27 to take silver and Gemili Adam was third in 20.35.
China's Xie Zhenye finished fifth in a national record time of 20.40.
