Controversial US sprinter Noah Lyles is seemingly launching mind games, claiming that Oblique Seville’s slow start in the men’s 100-metre heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was due to the Jamaican ‘panicking’.

Seville, one of the main challengers to Lyles alongside compatriot and world leader Kishane Thompson, had the slowest reaction time of all the runners with 0.286 in Heat 1 and finished third in 9.93 seconds.

Lyles, in a post-race interview with NCB Sports‘ Lewis Johnson, was asked if he saw Seville’s race won by South Africa’s Gift Leotlela with the fastest time of 9.87s.

“I knew that was going to happen. That man was panicking at the back. But he is a gamer, so he will get it back and we will have a great final,” said Lyles, smirking.

WATCH:

🇺🇸Noah Lyles says he knew 🇯🇲Oblique Seville would have a bad start because "that man was panicking in the back" 👀#WorldAthleticsChamps 📺: CNBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/BVRhRr6gUC

— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) September 13, 2025

Lyles won his heat in 9.95s with a reaction time of 0.187. Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake was second in 10.07s.

Seville, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, dismissed Lyles’ provocative antics, noting that everything is OK.

“Things happen, but everything is going to be fine in the semi-finals and the finals. Nothing has changed in terms of my performance, just a little shaky at the start but everything is working perfectly in my favour,” said Seville.

But the man they all have to beat is Kishane Thompson, who looked awesome winning Heat 2 in 9.95s with a lot in reserve.

Thompson got the perfect start, powering out the blocks and tried hard to contain himself from running too fast, too early, as he floated home in 9.95.