EUGENE -- Canada's Andre deGrasse finished the season on a high note, while also delivering a message heading into the Olympic year, winning the men's 200m in 19.76 at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

deGrasse has spent the majority of the season working his way back from injury and into championship form. He finished sixth in the event at the World Championships last month and was not favored here.

“It’s been a challenging season, but I gotta finish strong, give it my best I got, and try to come away with something I can learn going into next year," deGrasse said. "Next year’s a big year obviously with the Olympics, so I wanted to try to just give it all to try to see where I’m at going into next season.”

But the 28-year-old reigning Olympic champion looked every bit a man not to be discounted, surging by Americans Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton down the stretch and beating them to the line in a new season best time.

"Paris next year, you gotta like that!" - @LylesNoah

Canada's Andre De Grasse claims the Diamond League title and Americans Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton go 2-3.

?: @nbc & @peacock | #EugeneDL pic.twitter.com/vugfDVddYi

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) September 17, 2023

Bednarek finished second in 19.95 and Knighton was third in 19.97.

deGrasse said he was "grateful" to be able to win his first Diamond League trophy and is ready to turn his attention to next season. The biggest key he said is going to be warding off the injury bug that bit him this year.

“For me, it’s really just staying healthy," he said. "I know what I’m capable of if I’m healthy. Obviously I had some challenges this year with my health, and just trying to get back into my fitness and my speed. I see it coming back now, so I just have to remember to tell myself, 'Stay patient, keep working hard, keep grinding, just keep going every single time.'”

World champion Noah Lyles did not compete. After finishing second to Christian Coleman in the 100m on Saturday, he joined the NBC broadcast crew in the booth for this race.