‘Furious’ Fred Kerley Walks Out of NYC Grand Prix Over Disappointing Track and Field Management

Fred Kerley has been ruled out of the New York Grand Prix 2024, courtesy of a false start. The American sprinter seemed to have jumped the gun early, resulting in an unwanted disqualification. Officials broke this news in seconds, requesting him to walk out of the arena before the final race. Kerley didn’t look quite happy with the decision as it would limit his next appearance at the US Olympic trials.

Plus, he challenged the decision saying his blocks shook during the start. And well, a track fan could easily point it out on stream, but it felt as if the stars were not in his favor as his disqualification was displayed on the board.

“I asked and requested for new blocks, one of my pads was broken. I slipped the first time, then the second time, and I’m not happy about the third time,” the 100m sprinter exclaimed in his post-race interview. The sheer feeling of betrayal was quite evident on his face as he then moved out of the stadium. Further in the interview, when asked if it was a fair decision or not, Fred dominantly denied the claim saying, “No we’re not DQ’ed.”

Besides Kerley, Sandrey Davidson, a Jamaican participating in the same event reported a similar issue. However, he was waived off by the officials which triggered things more. And amidst all this, Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati & USA’s Micaiah Harris – hilariously happened to have their own race. The duo almost raced to the finish line, only to realize the event had a restart.

Things started to cool down & the track and field community began to cope with this disappointment. But little did they know what was coming their way until Citus Mag owner Chris Chavez announced another heartbreaking news.

Before the event started, Fred Kerley was caught wearing PUMA spikes, something that is very unlikely. This is because the athlete held a multi-dollar deal with Asics for years, and his choosing a different brand was not allowed. At the NYC Grand Prix, fans saw him wear bright orange spikes alongside a vibrant black with a splash of an orange suit.

The whole thing created a buzz, leading to a suspicion around the stadium. So, Chris had to step in and clear things out stating how the $10 billion brand scratched off the deal with him. “ASICS and Fred Kerley have mutually parted ways and he is no longer an ASICS-sponsored athlete. We wish him the best in his career,” a spokesperson from ASICS stated.

But if one had to confirm whether Fred signed a deal with PUMA, the topic remains a mystery.

Besides Fred Kerley Drama, Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Disappointing Exit

Unlike Fred Kerley, World’s Fastest Woman Alive’s Elaine Thompson-Herah had a catastrophic ending to the NYC Grand Prix. Besides a last-place finish, the sprinter was forcefully carried out as the officials confirmed a lower-leg injury.

This news took up the remaining headline space as her injury puts Jamaica in a tough spot. After Shericka Jackson’s disastrous performance at the Oslo Diamond League, Thompson-Herah remained their last Olympic hope, and this injury just changed things.

Now, two questions lie in every track and field fan’s mind. What’s next for Fred Kerley & Will Elaine Thompson-Herah to recover until the Jamaican Olympic trials?