The final showdown between longtime rivals Noah Lyles and Fred Kerely came to a fitting conclusion. Both US sprinters aimed to win the 60m dash at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix event. While Lyles had clinched the qualifying heat, the Budapest threepeater followed suit in the finals.

Fred Kerley, who had previously fallen behind by just 0.03 seconds, found himself crossing the finish line at fourth place this time. Moreover, while Noah Lyles finished things in 6.44 seconds, Kerley lagged behind and clocked 6.55 seconds. Interestingly, this defeat crushed an earlier episode of arrogance shown by Kerley a second time.

The bigger they talk, the farther they fall… behind

Citius Mag uploaded a video on its YouTube channel on 18 August 2023 showcasing Fred Kerley attending a press conference. The video was titled, “Fred Kerley: If Noah Lyles Is Running 9.65, I’m Running Faster.” Matching the description of the title, the footage showed a haughty Kerley speaking to the press.

The US sprinter noted, “I’m Fred Kerley. It is my title. No one 9.65 home running faster.” As soon as these words left his mouth, one of the interviewers could be heard saying, “That’s what they all say until they get beat.” However, while Noah Lyles won the 100m gold on 20 August, Kerley had already been eliminated in the qualifying heat on 19 August.

The 3x World Champ almost relived a repeat telecast of that time, as even the bronze medal eluded his grasp. Replacing him from the indoor qualifying heat, Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake won the silver medal. This was the perfect chance for Kerley to establish his dominance on a new track. But now, he falls behind Lyles in two categories.

Fred Kerley loses head-to-head battle of supremacy

Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles are two of the best American sprinters. But, while the two work as a team in relay races, they have an electrifying head-to-head rivalry. Notably, Fred Kerley has always succeeded over Lyles in the 100m dash. On the other hand, the 6x World Champ Lyles triumphed over Kerley in the 200m distance.

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But, the 60m track was a new and untested battlefield for both. Although Noah Lyles has been running the indoor track for several years, this was the debut attempt for Fred Kerley. But, the initial promise he showed in the qualifying heat deflated very badly in the finals. Will this blow mellow down Kerley, or will he come back stronger?

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