“You know I’m excited to go onto other things with the Prefontaine Classic that’s coming up, getting ready for trials, and also getting ready for World Championship. So this year is gonna be really fun and we’re just starting,” said Kenny Bednarek with a smile, ahead of one of the most anticipated races of the year. The 26-year-old from Tulsa might have started his season late, but he certainly didn’t waste any time grabbing the spotlight. And that, perhaps, is what makes his upcoming showdown with Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo at the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic so intriguing. How? 

Let’s rewind for a second. Bednarek ended his 2024 campaign in style, winning the men’s 200m at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels. Not only did he clock an impressive 19.67 seconds, but he did it by outpacing Tebogo, the very man who had bested him in the Olympic final in Paris just weeks earlier. It was redemption with a capital R. That victory punched Kenny’s ticket to the Diamond League Final—his first since 2021—and set the tone for a resurgent 2025.

Since then, Bednarek hasn’t finished outside the top two in any race he’s entered. He was also a clear favorite to win the season championship title in the Grand Slam Track league before its early shutdown. Still, a major variable lingers: he hasn’t faced Tebogo yet this year. Does that make his perfect run a bit shaky on paper? Maybe. But ask anyone tracking the sport closely, and they’ll tell you—Bednarek has momentum, a point to prove, and the crowd behind him.

On July 3, Travis Miller broke down the stats behind the rivalry between Kenny Bednarek and Letsile Tebogo in the men’s 200m. According to the numbers, the Olympic champ holds the advantage—Tebogo leads their head-to-head record with five wins to Bednarek’s two, and his personal best of 19.46 seconds outshines Kenny’s 19.57. Yet, when fans were asked to predict the likely winner of the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic, the support leaned toward Bednarek. The numbers may favor Tebogo, but the public is clearly backing Kenny. Need evidence? 

Under Travis Miller’s post, one track fan commented, “Definitely Kenny… We haven’t seen much of Tebogo so far. But Kenny has been on [fire].” And it’s not hard to see why. Bednarek has dominated every 200m race he’s entered this season. Of course, Tebogo is also undefeated in the 200m this year—winning both of his appearances. But what truly set Kenny apart were his back-to-back performances on May 31 and June 1.

First, he clocked a commanding 19.95 seconds (with no wind assistance) to take the 200m title at the Philly stop of the Grand Slam Track circuit. Then, less than 24 hours later, he returned to the track and dropped a blazing 9.86 seconds (+0.8m/s), setting the world-leading mark in the 100m at the time. Tebogo hasn’t had moments that electrifying so far this season. And that might be exactly why the fans are throwing their weight behind Kenny ahead of the Prefontaine Classic.

Kenny Bednarek wins the full support ahead of the mega battle 

“Kenny is the man in form,” one fan declared—and the numbers don’t lie. From blazing times to commanding wins, Kenny Bednarek has been ticking every box this season. Meanwhile, Letsile Tebogo’s journey has hit a few bumps. After a surprising ninth-place finish in the men’s 100m at the Rabat Diamond League, the Olympic champion revealed he’s been battling a nagging injury. “Today’s performance wasn’t what I had hoped for. I’m currently dealing with a recurring injury, which hasn’t been easy,” he shared with fans. Since that setback, he hasn’t lined up for a single race. But all eyes are now on July 5—his long-awaited return.

That uncertainty has shaped fan sentiment heading into the Prefontaine Classic. “Giving it to Kenny just because Letsile will give it 70% because he thinks his only competition is Lyles,” one commenter noted, referencing Tebogo’s past rivalry with Noah Lyles. The two had a heated verbal back-and-forth last season, and Tebogo backed it up on the track, taking down the American star in the 200m final at the Paris Olympics. But so far in 2025, the rematch hasn’t materialized. That context may be why another fan drew a line between now and later: “Kenny for the win at Pre.. Tebogo for the Gold medal in September.” It’s a nod to the looming showdown at the World Championships in Tokyo, where Tebogo, Bednarek, and Lyles are expected to collide at full strength.

And perhaps the most fitting take of all came from someone who’s been watching the season unfold closely: “Kung Fu Kenny will likely win – he has had excellent form this year. I expect at worlds it will be closer.” Right now, Bednarek is the man with rhythm, momentum, and the crowd behind him. But with Tebogo returning to the starting line and Lyles lurking on the horizon, this sprint rivalry is only just heating up.