There are a few things you don’t expect from a fan poll. A few cheeky responses, sure. A lopsided favorite, sometimes. But a near-consensus that nails the outcome of a national championship final? That’s not typical. Yet when we asked our readers who they thought would win the men’s 100m at the USATF Championships, with Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley out of the picture. And as it appears, “Kung Fu Kenny” left others in the dust in the poll itself!

132 of the 172 votes went to Kenny Bednarek. But it wasn’t just a manifestation. Fans really had the vision with that Kenny pick. Why? Two days later, he clocked a personal best of 9.79 to claim his first-ever national title over the distance!

So, it’s fair to say that the track enthusiasts knew.

But what they may not have known, or perhaps only guessed, is just how legitimate Bednarek’s global medal chances now look heading into the World Championships in Tokyo. That’s the pivot. The conversation has moved from “Can he win the U.S. title?” to “Can he actually win gold at Worlds?” Because what we’re seeing now isn’t just a sprinter peaking at the right time. It’s an entire season being shaped around precision, consistency, and something resembling inevitability.

The numbers are starting to speak louder than any nickname. Bednarek, aka “Kung Fu Kenny,” has remained unbeaten across both the 100m and 200m this season! He swept the Grand Slam Track series, winning in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia, and was crowned Racer of the Year for the effort. That’s the kind of campaign most athletes dream of but rarely execute. And when he uncorked a 9.79 in Eugene, it wasn’t just a fast time, it was a declaration.

That performance ties him with Noah Lyles and Maurice Greene as the sixth fastest American of all time. It also places him ahead of Christian Coleman, ahead of Trayvon Bromell, ahead of every American sprinter this season. And the field in Eugene wasn’t light. Behind Bednarek’s 9.79, Courtney Lindsey ran 9.82, T’Mars McCallum 9.83, Bromell 9.84, and Coleman 9.86. The top six all clocked sub-9.93. This wasn’t a gift-wrapped title. It was taken, cleanly and emphatically, from a high-performing group.

Kung Fu Kenny cleared the lobby, just like you said

That’s why one fan’s comment from the poll hit a bit harder after the race than you’d expect. It read, “Good job for Noah to give the other guys a shot at a win. Kenny may be faster than Noah. I can’t call a winner from those two.” It’s no longer bold to put Bednarek and Lyles in the same sentence. It’s logical.

This version of Bednarek is a refined one. Gone are the early-career inconsistencies. In their place? Tactical sharpness and steadiness across both short sprints. His 200m best, 19.57 set in Zurich last year, already placed him among the elite. But in 2025, he’s rounded out the other half of the equation. And even if his 7th-place finish in the 100m final at the Paris Olympics left some doubt, it’s clear now that the adjustment was part of the plan.

There’s also something to be said for timing. Lyles is pacing himself for Tokyo. Coleman is still finding rhythm. Bromell, as one fan put it, “needs to be in a good mental state in order for him to take first… When Travyon has a good race, NOBODY is catching him.” That’s true. But “when” is doing a lot of work there.

Meanwhile, Bednarek isn’t leaning on potential. He’s building a season that makes predictions look like facts. In 2021, it was Lyles who surged late. In 2023, it was Coleman who shocked the field indoors. 

Now? It may just be Kung Fu Kenny’s turn to hold the spotlight. And this time, the fans saw it coming.