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≡ ATLANTA CITY GAMES ≡
/Updated/The annual “street meet” on a five-lane, 230 m track in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia – the Atlanta City Games – was held on Saturday, with Olympic 100 m champ Noah Lyles to be the main attraction, but he had to take the day off.
He told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that he had some inflammation in an ankle a couple of weeks ago and wanted to “play it safe” and not risk any further injury.
On the track, there were still plenty of stars, starting with 2022 World men’s 400 m hurdles champ Alison dos Santos (BRA) in the straight 200 m hurdles. Two-time NCAA champ Sean Burrell was out best, but dos Santos took over by mid-way and run confidently to the line, winning in 21.85 (wind: +1.5 m/s). Burrell was a clear second in 22.30.
That’s a world best on a straight track, considerable faster than the 22.10 by Britain’s Andrew Turner from 2011. Burrell is now no. 6 all-time.
The next race was another record performance, with 2022 Commonwealth women’s 200 m runner-up Favour Ofili taking the lead early and storming to a decisive in the women’s 150 m in 15.85 (+2.0), also a world best, smashing to 16.23 by Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) from 2018. Candace Davis of the U.S. was a clear second in 16.14, an American best!
Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala emerged after 50 m and run away with the featured men’s 150 m in 14.70 into a 1.1 m/s headwind, beating Terrence Jones (BAH: 14.93) and American Matthew Boling (15.15).
The best women’s outdoor long jump in 2025 saw surprise World Indoor champ Claire Bryant of the U.S. get her first-ever 7 m jump with a wind-aided 7.03 m (23-0 3/4: +2.4 m/s) on her final attempt to steal the event from Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore, who reached a windy 7.02 m (23-0 1/4: +2.6 m/s) in round four with her all-time outdoor best! Quanesha Burks of the U.S. got a (wind-legal) seasonal best of 6.80 m (22-3 3/4) for third.
(Thanks to TSX correspondent Karen Rosen for the update on the wind readings, not immediately available while the meet was ongoing.)
In the men’s 100 m, South Africa’s world leader Akani Simbine produced another excellent race, pulling ahead in the second half and winning in 9.86w (+2.3 m/s). Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike was a distant second at 10.05.
The men’s 200 on the straight was a speedy 19.55w (+2.2) win for Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the 2022 European champ, ahead of Jereem Richards (TTO: 19.83) and 400 m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA: 20.03).
Trey Cunningham, the 2022 Worlds silver winner, took the lead at mid-race in the 110 m hurdles and won by daylight in 13.16 (+0.3), with Paris Olympian Freddie Crittenden in 13.33. Paris Olympian Matt Ludwig won the men’s vault at 5.83 m (19-1 1/2), with American Austin Miller second at 5.63 m (18-5 1/2).
The women’s 100 m had three coming across almost together, with 2021 NCAA champ Cambrea Sturgis moving up from third with 40 m to go to lean at the tape to win in 10.98 (+1.2), by 6/1000ths over 2024 NCAA champ McKenzie Long, also in 10.98. American Celera Barnes was third in 11.01. Sturgis and Long moved up to equal-2nd on the 2025 year list.
The women’s straightaway 200 m saw Tokyo Olympic relay gold medalist Lynna Irby-Jackson get a lifetime (straightaway) best in 22.22 (+1.7), pulling away from Tamara Clark (22.71) and Talitha Diggs (22.79).
Former world-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. emerged from a three-way battle in the final third of the 100 m hurdles to win in 12.30w (+2.1) over no. 3 all-time Tia Jones (12.36) and Olympic fifth-placer Grace Stark (also 12.36).
A terrific men’s long jump saw Jamaica’s World Indoor bronzer Carey McLeod move to no. 2 on the 2025 world outdoor list at 8.33 m (27-4), beating Italy’s World Indoor champ Matteo Furlani (8.28 m/27-2).
This meet was more about fun than nail-biting competition, but there were some compelling performances nonetheless. An evening session at Midtown High school will have 800 m and 1,500 m races beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
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