It’s been almost a week since the 2024 Diamond League finals wrapped up, but the buzz in the track and field world is still alive and kicking. Fred Kerley came into Brussels with sky-high expectations, hoping to cap off his wild season at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme track. After all, the 2x Olympian had already flashed his speed earlier, crossing the 100-meter line in 9.81 seconds to snag bronze at the Stade de France. With two big races left in Brussels, all eyes were locked on him, and the pressure was on.

Even Track and Field analyst Rodney Green was betting on the 29-year-old to deliver. But things didn’t quite go Fred’s way. Instead, Ackeem Blake from Jamaica sparked the USA vs. Jamaica rivalry all over again, blazing past the finish line in 9.93 seconds. On a recent episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin, Rodney Green, and Tiara Williams broke down what went down. And Fred Kerley’s Diamond League stint had Rodney Green switching sides!

The Bahamian sprinter Rodney Green cheekily admitted, “Listen, I gotta apologize to Ackeem [Blake].” Much like Fred Kerley, Justin Gatlin’s co-host thought the American would snag the Diamond Trophy. Green explained, “I was like, okay, Fred’s been running all these 19.8 loads, he’s been having season’s bests. I said when he comes back to this 100, oh, it’s going to be on,” he confessed. At the Zurich Diamond League, the 29-year-old Kerley finished fourth with a blazing 19.81 seconds.

It didn’t get him a win, but it was still his season’s best, making Green confident Kerley would be the one to beat in the shorter sprint. However, no one expected the Jamaican wunderkind to swoop in and seize a victory. So the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalist Green finally admitted, “Ackeem, with that rocket start, boy, he was gone, and he was gone out.”

Even though Christian Coleman was quick off the blocks, the 22-year-old was hot on his heels. The Americans pulled off a stellar photo finish, crossing the line in 10.00 seconds. But Coleman edged his compatriot and was announced as a runner-up. 

Despite the race not going as Green expected, he had a word of advice. “Timing is everything, man.” It would seem fitting for Kerley to triumphantly end his season with the Diamond League champion title. But it just wasn’t meant to be. “Your time is definitely coming. Keep working at it,” the analyst stated. However, while he couldn’t impress in Brussels, how did he do throughout the meet? 

Fred Kerley’s highs and lows at the Diamond League

On April 20, the sprinter competed in the Xiamen Diamond League. Interestingly, the podium resembled the one we witnessed in Brussels. The 29-year-old was quick off the blocks, but Christian Coleman overcame his sluggish start and crossed the finish line in 10.13 seconds. Kerley trailed behind him in 10.17 seconds, while Ackeem Blake finished with 10.20 seconds on the clock. Onto Shanghai next! His time of 10.11 seconds was quicker this time around. But he still trailed behind Akani Simbine, who won in 10.01 seconds, and Coleman, who clocked in 10.04 seconds.

After proving his mettle at Stade de France, he shifted his focus to the next event—the Lausanne Diamond League. However, he decided to contest in the 200m circuit. But he wasn’t a match for Letsile Tebogo (19.64 seconds) and Erriyon Knighton (19.78 seconds). With his time of 19.86 seconds, he had to settle for a third-place finish. The sprinter was back to the 100m circuit in Silesia and finally bagged his first win! His blistering 9.87 finish set a new meet record, and he was ready to head over to the Rome Diamond League. 

Unfortunately, Fred Kerley couldn’t keep the momentum going. Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo clinched a win in 9.87 seconds instead. Christian Coleman clocked in 9.92 seconds, and the 29-year-old had to settle for another third-place finish with 9.95 seconds on the clock. The Olympic bronze medalist might not have won the Diamond Trophy, but he didn’t fail to impress throughout. Do you agree with what Rodney Green had to say?

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