Lost Out on $100K, Fred Kerley Makes Surprising Usain Bolt Comment in Emotional 400m Comeback After 2-Year Hiatus

When life hands you lemons, lace up and sprint anyway. That’s what Fred Kerley did. Or at least we know he tried. Now, we know that Fred Kerley’s trip to the Grand Slam Track League in Jamaica didn’t go quite as planned, but the man didn’t let it shake him. He opened the meet with a rough 100m, finishing seventh with a time of 10.30 seconds—nowhere near that $100K prize he had his eye on. But not being one to give, he came back swinging with a 3rd-place finish in the 200m. But he said next was what’s surprising. So what did he say?

Well, for that, we might need to go back to April 19. After all, with no gold, no big check, but still a reminder that you can’t count him out. And just when people started to wonder if his spark was fading, boom, he shows up at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 19 and blazes a 44.73 in the 400m. That’s after a 2-year hiatus from the event that made him the FRED.

He edged out Arizona State’s Jayden Davis right at the line, proving that, yeah, he’s still got that dawg in him. But even after that monster comeback, Fred Kerley wasn’t done reflecting on the Grand Slam. In fact, he had a lot to say about it and not in a bitter way. “: Pushing the sport. And not only pushing the sport but pushing athletes to get better benefits,” he said, talking about the league founded by Michael Johnson.

The GST might be brand new, but it’s already doing what traditional meets haven’t—pushing the sport forward, putting money on the line, and creating TV-friendly moments.  But its debut didn’t go as expected. Well, the Grand Slam Track League may have kicked off its debut in Usain Bolt’s land,  Kingston, with more empty seats than fans, but Fred Kerley still felt the weight of history under his spikes.

After bouncing back with a 44.73 win in the 400m at the Mt. SAC Relays, Kerley spoke with RunnerSpace.com and got real about what it meant to race on the same Jamaican track where legends like Usain Bolt once tore it up. “Like you say, Bolt has done that. Personal attractions, plenty of time,” he said. “But it’s kind of cool to have a green and yellow track. Yeah, going to Jamaica, all that great.”

You could hear the respect in his voice—it wasn’t just another meeting; it was a moment. And Kerley didn’t stop there. When asked about the bigger picture, he lit up, talking about competition and legacy: “I love every single competition. I love every single great, no matter—you got England, you got the U.S., Africa, and Great Britain. There are a lot of great athletes that we all look up to… we come for us.”

Sure, he might’ve lost out on that $100K payday in the 100m, but he’s playing the long game. For Kerley, this isn’t just about chasing wins—it’s about growing the sport, respecting the past, and paving a better path for the future. Whether it’s Bolt’s shadow or a brand-new spotlight, he’s ready to run in both. Now, does that mean Fred Kerley walked away from the Grand Slam empty-handed? Well, not exactly.

Fred Kerley faces setbacks but bounces back with a 400m comeback

Fred Kerley’s debut at the Grand Slam Track League in Kingston, Jamaica, was a rollercoaster—but one worth the ride. He lined up for both the 100m and 200m in the short sprints division, finishing seventh in the 100m with a time of 10.30 seconds and bouncing back to claim third in the 200m with a 20.39 finish. Not exactly the fireworks fans were expecting, but let us tell you something interesting.

Each athlete earns points based on their finishes, and Kerley ended up with 8 points total. It was enough to land him fourth place overall in the short sprints division. Now, about that cash. While he missed out on the $100K jackpot that went to Kenny Bednarek for sweeping both races and earning a perfect 24 points, Kerley didn’t walk away empty-handed. He earned $25,000 for his efforts. So yeah, not a bad payday for a tough night.

Because after that, Kerley pulled something even bigger—a bold return to his roots in the 400m. Suddenly, one off-night in Jamaica doesn’t matter as much when you’re clocking 44.73 after a two-year break from the event. Before his Mt. SAC Relays comeback, Fred Kerley hadn’t touched the 400m since March 11, 2023, at the Sydney Track Classic, where he won in 44.65.

That was just his fourth lap since 2019, as he’d shifted gears to chase gold in the shorter sprints. But let’s not forget—this is the same guy who ran 43.64 back in 2019 and took bronze at Worlds that same year. His return isn’t just a stat. No, it’s a statement. Kerley’s not just trying to win races. He’s building a legacy across every distance he touches.