Olympics: Bednarek wins silver medal in 200 meters

Kenny Bednarek has added another Olympics medal to his collection.

Bednarek took second place to earn a silver medal during Thursday's men's 200 meters final at the Paris Olympics. His time of 19.62 was only surpassed by gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. The 21-year-old set an African record of 19.46 to win his first Olympic medal.

Bednarek was the top finishing American as Noah Lyles (19.7) won bronze and Erriyon Knighton (19.99) placed fourth. Bednarek got a good start out of lane No. 8 with Tebego one lane to his left, and around the corner Bednarek held a slight advantage. According to the splits, Bednarek ran the fastest first 100 meters in 10.1. Down the stretch Tebogo opened up a stride length on the rest of the field as he pounded his chest before crossing the finish line.

Bednarek's time of 19.62 was the second fastest of his career. His personal best of 19.59 was at the U.S. Olympic trials in June. At the Tokyo Olympics, Bednarek ran a 19.68. Tebogo's time in Paris of 19.46 was the fifth fastest in history, according to World Athletics, but was still 0.16 off of the Olympic record of 19.3 by Jamaica's Usain Bolt.

The results in the event were similar for the U.S. from three years ago in Tokyo. Bednarek won silver, Lyles bronze and Knighton was fourth.

On Sunday Bednarek placed seventh in the 100 meters finals in Paris. He will be on the track one more time as part of the U.S. 4x100 relay on Friday at 12:45 p.m. The American group of Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King and Courtney Lindsay took first on Thursday morning in the relay semifinals, and Bednarek is expected to take one of their places in the finals.