“I’m changing the narrative this year, and I mean, I’m a 100 sprinter, and I’m dangerous.” Kenny Bednarek’s message after his Grand Slam Track 100m win on day 1 was clear. A lot of people don’t see him as a 100m specialist, self-admittedly. But he’s here to change that notion. And well, he’s already started laying the foundation of this in Kingston. He put the world on notice this weekend as Kung Fu Kenny got off to a towering start in this outdoor season. And now? He’s garnered enough courage to throw down a gauntlet to ‘The’ Olympic Champion. Wait what?

Day 1 in Kingston started with the 100m race, where Kenny Bednarek stomped to a 10.07s win, merely 0.01s ahead of his Jamaican rival, Oblique Seville. Even Olympians like Zharnel Hughes and Ackeem Blake had no answer to the Kung Fu Kenny storm. And what about Fred Kerley? Oh well, he finished 7th with an upsetting 10.30s on board. Just the next day, in the 200m, Bednarek ended up exerting his dominance once again. Kerley had also risen slightly above the day 1 disaster. But it was too little, too late.

April 5 on day 2 of the Grand Slam Track, Kenny Bednarek showed up at the National Stadium in Jamaica and produced the same results in the 200m event. Clocking 20.07, Bednarek clutched another 12 points to his name, becoming the first ever Slam Champion in the men’s short sprint distance. In doing so, he didn’t just hold off Zharnel Hughes for silver but also the 100m Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley. Yes, he restricted the big man Kerley in both the 100 and 200 sprints, leaving him devoid of the $100,000K prize money. While Bednarek himself took home the same, thanks to being crowned the Slam Champion with 24 points.

But the real interesting deal came on later, when Kenny Bednarek spoke to Chris Chavez from Citius Mag after the 200 showdown. In light of him conquering both the 100m and 200m races with such good timings so early in the season, Chavez asked Kenny Bednarek, “Any challengers you want to call out for Miami?” Well, that’s when Kenny Bednarek replied, “Ah, s—. Noah, Erriyon, anybody that wants to come out and play, I mean, the track is ready for them.” Well Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton are two of the fastest 200-meter men on this planet. One is the reigning 200m Olympic bronze medalist and the third-fastest 200m runner in history, while the other is#6 on the all-time list. And looks like Bednarek, the Grand Slam Track sprint maestro, wants to spice things up in GST’s next Miami slam.

But looking at all that bitter history between Noah Lyles and Grand Slam Track, it’s highly unlikely that he will make an appearance at Miami. Yes, both Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles steered clear of the GST, while only the latter clarified his reason. He said on the Beyond the Records podcast, “Money is not the thing that’s going to drive me every time. Truthfully, even now, looking at it, OK, we’re two months out, and I’m looking, who are your outside sponsors, who are your non-track and field sponsors? I haven’t even heard a block’s sponsor,” he had questioned the GST previously.

Buy Kenny Bednarek’s enthusiasm is warranted. This 20.07 timing is his fastest and earliest 200m outdoor season opener since 2021. So yes, he’s into that prime form, and he can feel it. But turns out Bednarek isn’t the only one who is summoning Noah Lyles for a challenge. Turns out Fred Kerley, who just lost a $100,000k chance, has done so too!

Not just Kenny Bednarek, but Kerley is challenging Lyles too

While Noah Lyles is away enjoying his downtime on a beach vacation with his finacee, his opponents are busy undermining his sprint authority. Way before Kenny Bednarek became the Slam Champion in Kingston and challenged Lyles for a face-off at the GST, the man was challenged by another GST runner. None other than his old rival, Fred Kerley.

Appearing on the Pivot podcast just a day ago, Kerley confessed with reference to his World Championships 2023 loss to Noah Lyles, “Noah is really not on my level…Go look at the record books and who got more wins. I’ll leave it at that.” Kerley even called him for a showdown now, “Line it up again right now, [the] pressure [is] different. I’m dealing with more of the stuff than what he is dealing with….I’m telling you, he’s not built like me. I became a world champion in a year and a half. People ain’t been on my level. I’m more than special.”