By Mitch Phillips

TOKYO (Reuters) -Noah Lyles showed that he is still the man to beat over 200 metres when the three-times world champion scorched to a huge world-leading 19.51 seconds in his semi-final on Thursday.

It sets up a mouth-watering Friday final with fellow American Kenny Bednarek and Jamaican Bryan Levell, who were similarly impressive but, unlike Lyles who ran hard through the line, turned the burners off 50 metres out.

Lyles, third in the 100m on Sunday after a delayed start to his season, looked relaxed on the start line of his preferred event, as a cool breeze and light drizzle made conditions much more gentle than in the oppressive previous days.

Going in the third of three heats, he clearly decided that he wanted to lay down a marker – and get the best final lane – by

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