Noah Lyles cruises to easy win in opening round of 200

SAINT-DENIS, France — The 100 champion is off and running in the 200.

Noah Lyles coasted to an easy win in the men’s 200 on Monday. Lyles took the lead around the turn, led comfortably down the home stretch and crossed the finish line in 20.19 seconds to win the sixth and final heat of the 200.

"That was kind of getting the legs moving and stuff like that. Me and my coach knew it was a race where we were really gonna have to play it by ear," Lyles explained after the first round. "He said (come in) top two. In my heart I said one. In my heart I said win the first 120 (meters), win the second 150 (meters) and then from there, check the surroundings and make adjustments."

Lyles, who still had a smile on his face after his victory in the 100, told reporters he watched tape of his 100 win multiple times last night.

"I watched it last night and I watched it this morning," Lyles said. "I watched it quite a few times throughout the day."

Lyles is trying to become the first American sprinter to win Olympic gold medals in both the 100 and 200 since Carl Lewis accomplished the feat at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He came into the Olympics with the No. 1 200 time in the world this year (19.53). He’s also the American record holder in the event.

The U.S. sprinter won his first ever Olympic gold medal in the 100 on Sunday in a dramatic photo finish .

The 200 is Lyles’ signature event.

All three Americans advance in 200 men's semis

Kenny Bednarek won the fourth heat in the 200 with a time of 19.97.

Bednarek is hoping to get on the 200 Olympic podium after he finished seventh in Sunday’s 100 final. He raced to a silver medal in the 200 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Erriyon Knighton won the fifth heat in 19.99. The 20-year-old sprinter is a candidate to be on the podium along with Bednarek. Knighton won silver at the 2023 world championships.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noah Lyles cruises to easy win in opening round of 200