A slow start, followed by a surprising flash– needless to say, Fred Kerley’s 2025 season has been anything but predictable. But his setbacks were mere hurdles at this point. Soon enough, the former world champion has clawed his way back into form just in time for a major showdown. As Akani Simbine rides an unbeaten high into the Rabat Diamond League, many are already calling it his race to lose. But not everyone’s convinced. One track analyst has issued a bold warning: don’t sleep on Fred Kerley.

Talking of staked 100 meters in the Rabat Diamond League, Anderson Emerole warned Akani Simbine of Fred Kerley in the recent episode of Final Leg Track & Field. Citing him as the favorite to win the race among Letsile Tebogo, Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala, Brandon Hicklin, Kyree King, and Trayvon Bromell, he said, “I’m excited to see you know how Akani continues to progress but I do think that this race will be his first major competition that he’s going to have. Yes he’s had to you know race Kishane Thompson, he’s had to race Letizia a couple times, right he’s had to race you know Christian Coleman, a couple top guys.” Later that month, at the Xiamen Diamond League, Simbine outpaced a formidable field, including Tebogo, clocking 9.99 seconds in the 100m. But his competition in Rabat will be Coleman and Kerley. 

Emerole continued, “Fred Kerley even though he’s been through a lot of different things in 2025, I think that he’s really in some great form. He’s run 9.98 seconds recently out in California, where he ran three consecutive sub-10 performances.” At the Franson Last Chance meet, Fred Kerley ran three sub-10s: 9.96s, 9.90s, and a wind-assisted 9.87s—his best series of 2025. He also won the 2023 Rabat Diamond League, clinched victory in the men’s 100m, setting a meeting record with a time of 9.94 seconds. He outpaced Akani Simbine (9.99s) and Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05s) in a competitive field. 

Citing all this, the host said, “I don’t know this is this is a race he ran it in I think 9.94 seconds, so this might be a competition that Fred Kerley wants to win. Now I’m picking Akande Simbine to actually take the win here, but I think Fred Kerley is probably the top competition for Akande Simbine here.” 

Akani Simbine vs Fred Kerley is an interesting game to watch, given that one is having an electrifying 2025 season while the other is struggling in his.

Fred Kerley’s rough 2025 season

Fred Kerley’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by legal troubles and fluctuating performances on the track. On January 2, he was arrested in Miami Beach after a confrontation with police officers. Kerley attempted to access his vehicle, which was parked near an active crime scene, leading to a physical altercation where officers used a Taser to subdue him. He faced charges of battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

At the Grand Slam Track’s inaugural event in Kingston, Jamaica, he faced a challenging start. In the 100m final, Kerley finished seventh with a time of 10.30 seconds, a significant deviation from his usual sub-10-second performances. He attempted a comeback in the 200m, securing third place with a time of 20.39 seconds.  Despite these challenges, Kerley continued to compete. In April, he participated in the Mt. SAC Relays, winning the 400m with a time of 44.73 seconds, marking his first race at that distance since 2023.

However, on May 1, he was arrested again in Dania Beach, Florida, for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Olympic hurdler Alaysha Johnson, at a hotel. This incident led to his withdrawal from the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami. Kerley demonstrated resilience at the APU Franson Last Chance Meet in California. He competed in three 100m races over two days, clocking impressive times of 9.95 seconds, 9.87 seconds, and 9.98 seconds.

These performances not only marked his first sub-10-second runs of the season but also showcased his determination to rebound from earlier setbacks. But another setback came to him in the form of suspension from Philly Grand Slam Track.