Diamond League Final in Eugene 2023: Andre De Grasse surges to 200m title from Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton
- ️Ockert de Villiers
- ️Mon Sep 18 2023
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Andre De Grasse put an otherwise lacklustre season behind him to take the men's 200m at the 2023 Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday (17 September).
De Grasse produced a storming run in his final race of the year to clock 19.76, the fourth-fastest time of his career, and claim his maiden Diamond League title.
The Canadian ace finished ahead of Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek (19.95) with world runner-up Erriyon Knighton third in 19.97.
Bednarek, the winner of the 2021 Diamond Trophy, ran a strong bend to lead from Knighton.
But De Grasse, who was sixth in the World Championship 200m having failed to make the Canadian team in the 100m, shifted into a higher gear to surge past both Americans and win with ease.
The victory shows De Grasse is back to his best struggles with form and fitnees and not to be under-estimated as he defends his Olympic title at Paris 2024.
Three-time reiging 200m world champion Noah Lyles opted to contest the 100m final the previous day and was beaten by compatriot and former world champion Christian Coleman.
Prefontaine Classic Diamond League Final 2023 - Men's 200m results
- Andre De Grasse (CAN) - 19.76 seconds
- Kenneth Bednarek (USA) - 19.95
- Erriyon Knighton (USA) - 19.97
- Alexander Ogando (DOM) - 20.08
- Kyree King (USA) - 20.16
- Aaron Brown (CAN) - 20.23
- Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBR) - 20.38