• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home 2022 World Championships Oregon

Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: Fred Kerley Gets Vote as Greatest All-Around Sprinter in History

Elliott DenmanbyElliott Denman
July 19, 2022
0
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: Fred Kerley, some thoughts on the world champion at 100 meters…

A smiling champion, Fred Kerley with the bronze medalist, Trayvon Bromell, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics

0 0
0
SHARES
29
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Elliott Denman, a 1956 Olympian in the Race Walk, wrote this column on Fred Kerley and his amazing talents! Elliott has written for American Athletics, American Track & Field, and RunBlogRun since 1990. His insights are unique, and his style is like an ee cummings poem.

 

RelatedPosts

Koech and Guta claim top prize at Lagos City Marathon

Coffee With Larry, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix finds a new home, THE TRACK at newbalance!

Coffee With Larry, RunBlogRun previews the NB Indoor Grand Prix at the TRACK at new balance

The Truth is this: Elliott Denman gets it, and he uses track history to show us how to appreciate the enormity of what Fred Kerley, now World Champion at 100 meters, has done. 

 

EUGENE, OREGON – Fred Kerley did a lot more than winning a historic gold medal by leading a 1-2-3 Team USA sweep in the men’s 100-meter final that featured Day Two action of the 18th World Championships at Hayward Field.

 

A lot more.

 

I’ve been watching the world’s fastest men in action for decades and decades – everybody from Barney Ewell and Eddie Conwell and Mel Patton to Andy  Stanfield, Steve Williams and Carl Lewis and Linford Christie and Justin Gatlin and Maurice Greene and Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt.  And lots more.

 

But Kerley’s 9.86  Saturday night triumph over countrymen Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell also clinched – to me, anyway, and some purists are sure to disagree – the title of “greatest all-around sprinter in track and field history.”

Fred Kerley takes the Men’s 100 meters,
USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, June 23-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris

 

I define “greatest all-around sprinter” as a supreme achiever – at one time or another, over the outdoor version of the sport’s three shortest distances – 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters.

 

He’s done it the hardest possible way – as a former 400 specialist dropping all the way down to the 100.

 

Back in his 400-meter days at Texas A&M and beyond, he reigned as an NCAA, USATF National, and Diamond League champion over the one-lap distance.   He blazed some brilliant 200s in those days, too.

 

But in a decision that astounded many of the sport’s devotees, Kerley switched down to the 100.

His rationale: if he wanted to be rated a king of speed, he needed to show the world what he could do at the 100, too.

 

Well, now, it’s a clearcut case of point proven.

 

With personal bests of 9.76 (100), 19.76 (200), and 43.64 (400) now, he tops – in my book, anyway – all the great dashers whose names dot the sport’s history books.

 

Some were brilliant at both 100 and 200.   Others were dominant at 200 and 400. But no one’s ever

raced the triple the way Kerley now has.

Fred Kerley wins the 2022 WA Outdoor champs 100 meters, July 16, 2022, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics

Usain Bolt? Even with his 9.58 and 19.19 100/200 world records, he never ran a serious 400.  Oh, he once did jog a 45.28.

 

Michael Johnson?  Sure he blazed world marks at 200 (19.32) and 400 (43.18).  But he never got serious about the 100.

 

Current 400 standout Michael Norman has 19.70 (200) and 43.49 (400) credentials.  But he’s never bothered much with the 100.

 

The world 400 record-holder, Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, has zoomed a lap in 43.03.   But his 100s and 200s have been afterthoughts.

Fred Kerley, 100m,
World Athletics Championships
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July15-26, 2022
100 meters qualifying, photo by Kevin Morris

 

Tommie Smith may have been the best of the best older timers, with career marks of 10.34, 19.83, and 44.64.  But he focused on the shorter sprints, not the longest ones.

 

“We (he, Bracy, and Bromell) said we were going to do it….and we did it,” said the delighted Kerley.

 

Some American fans even were predicting a 1-2-3-4 USA finish.  But defending World Champion Christian Coleman messed that one up by finishing sixth, squeezed back of Kerley, Bracy, and Bromell by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and South Africa’s Akani Simbine.

 

The 1-2-3 was a smashing performance that restored smiles to long-suffering (through the era of Usain Bolt’s dominance) American track fans’ faces.

 

It was triply smashing to all those who’ve been following their career of Kerley all these years.

He’s atop my list for sure.  I recommend him to your list with equal emphasis.

 

Author

  • Elliott Denman
    Elliott Denman

    One of the finest and most prolific writers in our sport, Elliott Denman has written about our sport since 1956, when he represented the US in 1956 Olympic Games at the 50k race walk, the longest event on the Olympic schedule. A close observer of the sport, Elliott writes about all of our sport, combining the skills of a well honed writer with the style of ee Cummings. We are quite fortunate to have Elliott Denman as a friend and advisor.

    View all posts

Previous Post

 Remembering Kenny Moore  – 6th In A Series With Sebastian Coe, “Me And You And A Dog Named Cleo?!”, (With apologies to Lobo)

Next Post

Remembering Kenny Moore – 7th  In A Series- From Jeff Galloway

Elliott Denman

Elliott Denman

One of the finest and most prolific writers in our sport, Elliott Denman has written about our sport since 1956, when he represented the US in 1956 Olympic Games at the 50k race walk, the longest event on the Olympic schedule. A close observer of the sport, Elliott writes about all of our sport, combining the skills of a well honed writer with the style of ee Cummings. We are quite fortunate to have Elliott Denman as a friend and advisor.

Similar Post

Femke Bol gets her first World record over the 500 meters  at the 2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour

Femke Bol gets her first World record over the 500 meters at the 2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

February 6, 2023
Koech and Guta claim top prize at Lagos City Marathon
African Athletics

Koech and Guta claim top prize at Lagos City Marathon

February 6, 2023
Aleia Hobbs wins the Women’s 60 meters in a very tough field, in 7.02, two World Champions do not make the final…
2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour

Aleia Hobbs wins the Women’s 60 meters in a very tough field, in 7.02, two World Champions do not make the final…

February 6, 2023
2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, February 4, 2023, complete results from World Athletics Results Service
2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour

2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, February 4, 2023, complete results from World Athletics Results Service

February 6, 2023
Coffee With Larry, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix finds a new home, THE TRACK at newbalance!
2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour

Coffee With Larry, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix finds a new home, THE TRACK at newbalance!

February 5, 2023
MACLEAN WINS IN BOSTON HOMECOMING AT NEW BALANCE INDOOR GRAND PRIX
2023 World Athletics Indoor Tour

MACLEAN WINS IN BOSTON HOMECOMING AT NEW BALANCE INDOOR GRAND PRIX

February 5, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

November 18, 2022
Wanda Diamond League Final plans, 2023-2027, from World Athletics Website

Wanda Diamond League Final plans, 2023-2027, from World Athletics Website

October 14, 2022
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

3
Femke Bol gets her first World record over the 500 meters  at the 2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Femke Bol gets her first World record over the 500 meters at the 2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

February 6, 2023
Koech and Guta claim top prize at Lagos City Marathon

Koech and Guta claim top prize at Lagos City Marathon

February 6, 2023
Aleia Hobbs wins the Women’s 60 meters in a very tough field, in 7.02, two World Champions do not make the final…

Aleia Hobbs wins the Women’s 60 meters in a very tough field, in 7.02, two World Champions do not make the final…

February 6, 2023
2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, February 4, 2023, complete results from World Athletics Results Service

2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, February 4, 2023, complete results from World Athletics Results Service

February 6, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wanda Diamond League Final plans, 2023-2027, from World Athletics Website

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • (RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

RunBlogRun Follow

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. RunBlogRun is the voice of the sport.

RunBlogRun
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
1m

Good luck @PoelkerWill. I remember @DeSmetTrackXC as a sophomore in 1974! No track on campus back then! @DeSmetJesuitHS, @MoMileSplit

Will Poelker @PoelkerWill

Three weeks til the start of sophomore track season! Can't wait to toe the start line and get back to competing.
@DeSmetTrackXC @CoachTraughber @MoMileSplit @HBoundathletics @RunBlogRun
...@DeSmet_ADBarker

Reply on Twitter 1622662558925869057 Retweet on Twitter 1622662558925869057 Like on Twitter 1622662558925869057 Twitter 1622662558925869057
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
2m

Enjoy your "PolarBear" meet in GA, @miltontrack, we are a little colder in Wisconsin, ya know. #runblogrun, #runningnetwork,

Milton Track @miltontrack

Friday we held our annual “Polar Bear” Meet with the BLUE team coming out victorious! A variety of challenges provided a great team bonding experience! @LonnieEstes @clyealy @MLT_TrackField

Reply on Twitter 1622662212719632385 Retweet on Twitter 1622662212719632385 Like on Twitter 1622662212719632385 Twitter 1622662212719632385
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
4m

Hello tracksters in lovely Minnesota! #usatf,

Bolt of Lightning- Superior Speed Training @JRummels

USATF meet in Minnesota today. It's being held in a smaller venue, and we are packed in here like sardines.

Reply on Twitter 1622661743356051456 Retweet on Twitter 1622661743356051456 Like on Twitter 1622661743356051456 Twitter 1622661743356051456
Retweet on Twitter RunBlogRun Retweeted
throwersuni Throwers Universe @throwersuni ·
23h

The year Zane Weir threw his PB (21.99m), he opened up his season with 20.78m. Today he opened up with 21.32m 😳

Reply on Twitter 1622308700764397568 Retweet on Twitter 1622308700764397568 3 Like on Twitter 1622308700764397568 24 Twitter 1622308700764397568
Retweet on Twitter RunBlogRun Retweeted
deek207 Rob de Castella @deek207 ·
14h

A long time ago I once won a golden shoe….

Reply on Twitter 1622458480132247552 Retweet on Twitter 1622458480132247552 6 Like on Twitter 1622458480132247552 96 Twitter 1622458480132247552
Load More...
Next Post
Remembering Kenny Moore – 7th  In A Series- From Jeff Galloway

Remembering Kenny Moore - 7th  In A Series- From Jeff Galloway

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist