Fred Kerley’s Open Challenge Takes Unexpected Letsile Tebogo Turn After Olympic Champion Makes Polite Request

The Fred Kerley vs. Vernon Norwood saga has been fueling the track and field world for quite some time now, capturing the attention of fans and athletes alike. Kerley, who originally made waves in the 400m, stunned many when he switched gears to focus on the 100m and 200m sprints. While this transition brought him immense success, it also sparked a string of mockery from none other than Vernon Norwood. The rivalry ignited after 2016 Olympic 400mH bronze medalist Ashley Spencer teased the idea of Kerley returning to the 400m.

Norwood wasted no time taking a swipe, saying, “When I started running faster, you notice he stepped down to the 100m. That’s all you needed to know.” The jab didn’t sit well with Kerley, who quickly fired back with a bold reminder: “I drop 43 on your head,” referencing his blistering 43.64s in 2019. For context, Norwood’s best time sits at 44.10s—a significant gap in the world of elite sprinting.

But just as the dust began to settle, the rivalry flared up again, this time with an unexpected twist. Rising track star Letsile Tebogo has entered the fray, adding a new dimension to the Kerley-Norwood showdown. With Tebogo’s talent and swagger, this three-way clash promises to elevate the drama and intensity even further, leaving fans eagerly waiting to see how it all unfolds.

Letsile Tebogo teases 400m rivalry with Fred Kerley

Vernon Norwood became an Olympic gold medalist for the second time when he won the gold in the 4x400m relay in Paris. On the contrary, Fred Kerley missed out on the gold as he managed to clinch a bronze medal in the men’s 100m race. Taking a jibe at Vernon Norwood, Kerley recently posted on his X account, “@Vernon400m you got lucky this year see you next year.” Well, after this remark, the general expectation was that Norwood would reply, instead, Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo, decided to get involved. 

Tebogo replied to Kerley, “Can I be in” Looking at the Botswana sprinter’s interest, Kerley immediately acknowledged his request and commented, “Easy.” This was one of the most unexpected moments as Letsile Tebogo is considered mostly a 100m and 200m specialist. His major achievements have come in the 100m and the 200m disciplines. Competing in the Paris Olympics last month, Tebogo displayed raw speed as he outran the likes of Noah Lyles to clinch his maiden Olympic gold in the 200m. 

However, Tebogo is not a complete alien to the 400m category. Running in the 4x400m relay in Paris, Tebogo put on a brave show to help Botswana win the silver medal in Paris. Moreover, for someone who does not usually run the 400m, a personal best of 44.29s is not bad. Thus, with the rivalry now turning into a three-way fight, it will be interesting to see what happens next. But what’s more interesting is the fact that despite the back and forth, Vernon Norwood once thanked Fred Kerley.

Vernon Norwood thanks Fred Kerley For Extending his career

The amount of shades thrown between Fred Kerley and Vernon Norwood is significant. Thus, when Norwood acknowledged Kerley in 2023 for extending his career, it came as a pleasant surprise for many. The incident took place in July 2023, at the USATF Outdoor Championship. Running an impressive 45.06s in the 400m prelims to advance to the semi-final, Norwood brought up Fred Kerley. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citius Mag, Norwood stated, “Yes it’s very open… shout out to Michael Norman, Fred Kerley for dropping down. They made a lot more room for myself and a lot of other guys so it’s a good opportunity for everyone.” Norwood then went on to further state that Kerley going away has allowed him to extend his career by two years. He said, “Gave me two more year’s experience.” Thus, with the rivalry showing shades of bittersweet moments, it will be interesting to unveil what turn it will take in the upcoming days.