Fred Kerley never shies away from a challenge, and he’s back at it again, stirring up excitement on the track. After being entangled in the Vernon Norwood controversy, Kerley is once again making headlines. This time, instead of focusing on the challenge from Letsile Tebogo, who wants him to join a 400m race, Fred seems to have his sights set on another competitor—a 300m showdown.

Recently, Kerley took to X and posted, “Somebody set this 300 up this month me vs @mattonthefloor,” throwing down the gauntlet for Matt Hudson-Smith. Not one to mince words, Fred followed it up with another post to Matt, saying, “Ya @mattonthefloor I got you in 300.” It’s clear that Kerley is eager to put his speed to the test in this new rivalry.

It’s definitely shaping up to be a must-watch event. After securing bronze in the men’s 100m race, Fred Kerley playfully teased Vernon Norwood, claiming he was “lucky” this year—hinting at a future showdown between the two. While it was expected that Norwood would reply, it was Tebogo, a sprinter known for his 100m and 200m races, who jumped into the conversation, asking, “Can I be in?” Kerley accepted the challenge, even though Tebogo usually focuses on shorter races.

The surprising part is that Tebogo, who just won his first Olympic gold in the 200m, expressed interest in the 400m race. It seems he is challenging Fred to join the 400m race. Despite being a specialist in shorter distances, Tebogo has shown impressive speed in the 4x400m relay, where he helped Botswana win a silver medal in the Paris Olympics. With Tebogo now in the mix for a potential showdown with Kerley and Norwood, the competition is heating up and could evolve into an exciting rivalry across multiple distances. However, Fred Kerley can be the new hero of the track, as said by track legend.

Gatlin backs Fred Kerley as the sprinter to watch at the 2025 World Championships

Justin Gatlin sees Fred Kerley as a standout sprinter to keep an eye on in the lead-up to the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Gatlin is experienced in witnessing athletes reach the peak of their careers. He sees Kerley as hitting his stride now after going through a season with its share of challenges. Kerley’s bronze medal win in the 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics demonstrated his enduring ability to perform at the high tier of competition.

On the Ready Set Go podcast hosted by Gatlin, he commended Kerley for his progress and highlighted how he managed to maintain a speed of 9.8 seconds in the 100 meters and then swiftly transitioned to a time of 19.8 seconds in the 200-meter race. Gatlin emphasized Kerley’s experience and unwavering determination as factors that give him an edge over his rivals. “He knows what he needs to do,” Gatlin remarked while praising Kerley’s awareness of what it takes to emerge victorious in major competitions.

Getting prepared for the 2025 season involves Kerley dedicating himself to improving his curve running abilities in the 200-meter race—an endeavor he is fully committed to perfection in order to challenge elite athletes, like Letsile Tebligoe, Lyles, and Bednerak.

Confident in his progress, Kerley stated, “The more repetition I do, the better I’ll be. Once I get more reps in the 200m, I’ll be deadly.” Fans can expect an even more formidable Fred Kerley in the coming season, as he aims to dominate both sprint events.