Fred Kerley is arguably one of the hottest talents in track and field today. Although the 26-year-old couldn’t win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, he produced incredible performances in 2021, which speaks volumes about his abilities.
While he looks to shave more seconds off his time, his efforts on track drew praise from millions across the world. Among those millions feature Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, who shared kind words for the American.
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Yohan Blake praises Fred Kerley by admitting he could go faster
Blake forged a reputation with excellent performances in the 2012 London Olympics. Although he often featured in the shadow of Usain Bolt, he won an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m relay alongside his fellow Jamaican. That year, he also won silver medals in the 100m and 200m events.
In 2016, the 31-year-old won his second Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m relay, once again alongside Bolt. Although he took part in the Tokyo Olympics, he failed to make the 100m final and finished fifth in the 4x100m relay with Jamaica.
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TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Yohan Blake of Jamaica in the heats of the mens 100m during the Athletics event on Day 8 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Kerley finished second in the men’s 100m final to bag his first Olympic medal. With a time of 9.84s, he became the 15th fastest man of all-time in this category.
Recently, Blake gave an interview for Athletics Weekly, where he believed Kerley could produce much faster times in the future. He said,?“He’s got talent in the 100m, 200m and 400m. I’m really happy for him and I think he can go a lot faster. I don’t think he needs to change his technique.”
"He's got talent in the 100m, 200m and 400m. I'm really happy for him and I think he can go a lot faster. I don't think he needs to change his technique." @YohanBlake on @fkerley99 in 2021.
Read the full interview in our October magazine ⬇️
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 22, 2021
Kerley has the eighth fastest 400m time in history
The 26-year-old recorded a time of 43.64s in the 2019 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. This is the eighth fastest time in the men’s 400m category of all-time.
Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 100m – Medal Ceremony – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 2, 2021. Silver medallist, Fred Kerley of the United States poses on the podium REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
The fact that Kerley competes in the 100m, 200m and 400m categories augurs well for him in the future. Whether he can win that elusive Olympic gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, only time will tell.
