TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa sprinter Erriyon Knighton competed in the semifinal of the Men’s 200m in Track and Field at 2:18 p.m. ET on Wednesday afternoon.
Knighton successfully secured his spots in the finals, being held on Thursday.
Fellow Florida native Noah Lyles was also aiming for a spot in the final of the men’s 200-meter.
Knighton’s high school coach, Joe Sipp, at Hillsborough High School, is looking ahead to his crucial performance in Paris these next two days, while also reflecting on his years of training.
Sipp joined WFLA’s J.B. Biunno and Olympic champion Brooke Bennett to discuss Knighton’s journey to Paris.
“He’s a tremendous kid,” Sipp said of the runner.
Knighton got into running after not having an opportunity to play football his freshman year at his school.
“I’m the one who made him run track.”
But Knighton missed the first week of practice, still fighting Coach Sipp on the idea of running track. When he finally made it to practice, that’s when he fell in love with the sport.
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Erriyon Knighton, of the United States, reacts after competing in a men’s 200-meters’ heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) -
Erriyon Knighton, of the United States, reacts after competing in a men’s 200-meters’ heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) -
FILE -Erriyon Knighton, of the United States, competes in a Men’s 200-meter heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Sprinter Erriyon Knighton tested positive for a banned substance that an arbitration panel determined came from contaminated meat, a decision that keeps the 200-meter specialist eligible to run at the upcoming Olympic trials, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File) -
Erriyon Knighton, left, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win a men’s 200-meters’ heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) -
FILE – Erriyon Knighton, of the United States, left, wins a heat in the men’s 200-meter run at the World Athletics Championships on Monday, July 18, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. Sprinter Erriyon Knighton tested positive for a banned substance that an arbitration panel determined came from contaminated meat, a decision that keeps the 200-meter specialist eligible to run at the upcoming Olympic trials, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File) -
Erriyon Knighton, left, of the United States, crosses the finish line ahead of Tapiwanashe Makarawu, of Zimbabwe, and Aaron Brown, right, of Canada, in a men’s 200-meters’ heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) -
Erriyon Knighton, of the United States, runs ahead of Tapiwanashe Makarawu, right, of Zimbabwe, in men’s 200-meters’ heat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
According to Sipp, Knighton had stayed with him and his son during COVID-19 for about seven months, along with another athlete.
The coach even shared a story of the athlete feeling nervous about competing against other runners at competing high schools. But Knighton was quickly reminded of his athletic abilities, especially as he regularly competed against adult runners.
“He went out and he blew the field out,” Sipp said. “I don’t really think he knew how good of an athlete he was.”
Now, Sipp says even in times of high-level competitions, he’ll joke with Knighton if he is still worried about competing against local high school runners.
Knighton even face-timed his former coach while at the Paris Olympics, sitting next to Lebron James.
J.B. and Bennett also discussed the U.S. figure skating team getting their gold medals in Paris, years after the Russian-doping scandal in Beijing’s Winter Olympics in 2022, along with recapping gymnast Steven Nedoroscik’s return home to Sarasota on Tuesday.
“What’s Hot in Paris” is live streamed every day throughout the Games beginning at 11 a.m. ET. and can be viewed in the video player above.
