'We handling that'- Fred Kerley's warning shots to Lyles, Thompson & Co ahead of 2025 World Championships

Fred Kerley won bronze in the men's 100m in Paris.

'We handling that'- Fred Kerley's warning shots to Lyles, Thompson & Co ahead of 2025 World Championships

Stephen Awino 19:58 - 30.11.2024

Kerley is eager to reclaim the top spot in 2025 with the World Athletics Championships on the Horizon in Tokyo.

After a rollercoaster 2024 season that ended on a high note with an Olympic bronze medal in Paris, American sprinter Fred Kerley is brimming with confidence as he sets his sights on an exceptional 2025 campaign.

Kerley’s bronze in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Games marked a dramatic turnaround in what many had considered a lackluster season.

Clocking 9.81 seconds, Kerley finished just behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and fellow American Noah Lyles, who both posted times of 9.79, with Lyles narrowly edging out Thompson for the gold by milliseconds.

Kerley’s journey to Paris was anything but smooth. In June, during preparations for the Games, he faced a major setback at the New York Grand Prix, a critical race in his buildup to the Olympics.

An apparent false start led to a stumble on the blocks, leaving the former world champion visibly frustrated. In a surprising move, Kerley walked off the track, sparking speculation about his mental state heading into the U.S. Olympic Trials.

However, Kerley turned the disappointment into motivation. At the trials, he demonstrated his resilience by securing his spot on Team USA and setting the stage for his Paris redemption.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Kerley is determined to reclaim his status as a dominant force in track and field. On his X account, he teased fans and competitors alike with a confident message.

"Guess who’s back in 2025. You’ve got to prove to me if they’re really built like that," he wrote.

With the Tokyo World Athletics Championships on the horizon, Kerley aims to add another world title to his already impressive résumé.

As he prepares to face fierce competition from the likes of Thompson, Lyles, and other rising stars, Kerley’s renewed focus and determination could make him amongst the men to beat in 2025.