I didn’t expect to beat Noah, but I went in there with the intention to. Thank God I came out with the victory. Jereem “The Dream” Richards needed a confidence-booster ahead of the IAAF World Athletics Championship men’s 200 metres semis. He got it, the Trinidad and Tobago sprinter claiming top spot in the seventh opening round heat at the Khalifa International Stadium here in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

Richards clocked 20.23 seconds, but more importantly he finished ahead of gold medal favourite Noah Lyles, the American securing the runner-up spot in 20.26. And while Richards is fully aware that Lyles can go a lot faster, the win was very important for the Point Fortin track star in the context of an “up and down” 2019.