Former international 100m champion Fred Kerley was once slated to be a headliner at Sunday’s USATF New York Town Grand Prix within the males’s 100m. Alternatively, Kerley didn’t finally end up racing after he slipped within the beginning blocks two times. In spite of those mishaps, he selected to not race.
In a post-race interview with Citius Magazine, Kerley stated that considered one of his beginning block pads was once damaged, and he had asked new blocks. “I slipped the primary time, after which I slipped the second one time. I wasn’t about to let it occur a 3rd time,” Kerley stated.
“I used to be asking for new blocks. One in every of my pads was once damaged. I slipped the primary time, after which I slipped the second one time, and now not about to have it occur a 3rd time”
Fred Kerley on what took place originally of the NYC Grand Prix 100mpercent.twitter.com/rEUnHuYDAd
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) June 9, 2024
He took to Twitter after the race to criticize the Global Athletics Continental Excursion meet for the usage of “highschool stage blocks.”
The 100m on the NYC Grand Prix ended up being gained by means of Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike, with a ten.24 moment clocking right into a -0.7 m/s headwind.
This race was once meant to be Kerley’s first 100m since he publicly said he’d spoil Usain Bolt’s international file the following time he raced the space. Kerley has now not competed within the 100m for the reason that Shanghai Diamond League on April 27 and has now not but damaged the 10-second mark this season.
Kerley has a non-public highest of 9.76 seconds from the 2022 Global Championships, which he gained. He’s additionally the reigning Olympic silver medallist within the 100 metres.
BREAKING: Simply heard again from a spokesperson for ASICS after Fred Kerley’s look on the New York Town Grand Prix dressed in competitor spikes:
Commentary: “ASICS and Fred Kerley have mutually parted techniques and he’s not an ASICS subsidized athlete. We want him the most efficient in… percent.twitter.com/3utH4wOPop
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) June 9, 2024
Prior to the race, Kerley drew consideration within the warm-up house at Icahn Stadium, the place he was once noticed dressed in Puma spikes (as a substitute of his sponsor, Asics). It got here out after the race that Kerley is now and not using a sponsor, as Asics introduced that they’d mutually parted techniques with him after achieving a multi-year deal simply remaining 12 months. There was no authentic commentary on why the sponsorship ended, however Kerley was once rumoured to be annoyed with the customized “international champion” spikes the emblem made for him.
The 29-year-old plans to compete within the 100m and 200m on the U.S. Olympic Trials in two weeks.