Kenny Bednarek fires shot at Noah Lyles after dusting Fred Kerley

Kenny Bednarek (L) and Noah Lyles (R).

Kenny Bednarek fires shot at Noah Lyles after dusting Fred Kerley

Stephen Awino 20:51 - 06.04.2025

Kenny Bednarek has issued a challenge to Noah Lyles following a brilliant start to his campaign against Fred Kerley.

American sprinter Kenny Bednarek has thrown down the gauntlet to reigning world champion Noah Lyles following a commanding performance at the Jamaican leg of the Grand Slam Track (GST) series.

Bednarek sent a strong message with a sprint double, winning both the 100m and 200m events in style.

Competing in the innovative new track league founded by sprint legend Michael Johnson, Bednarek clocked 20.07 seconds to claim the 200m title, edging out Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes by 0.30 seconds.

Former 100m world champion Fred Kerley settled for third in 20.39 seconds.

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The win followed his victory in the 100m just a day earlier, completing an emphatic start to his GST campaign.

Riding the high of his performances, Bednarek issued a direct challenge to his American rival.

Speaking to Citius Mag, he said, “Noah, Erriyon (Knighton ) and anybody that wants to come out and play, the track is ready for them.”

The callout adds intrigue to what is becoming one of the fiercest rivalries in sprinting.

Lyles, who notably skipped the GST’s debut in Kingston, has previously voiced doubts about the league's format and structure.

Lyles' absence from the roster of athletes unveiled by Michael Johnson raised eyebrows, particularly as GST looks to shake up the track and field calendar with its city-to-city tour model.

The Bednarek-Lyles rivalry reached a peak at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the two clashed in both the 100m and 200m finals.

Lyles claimed gold in the 100m, while Bednarek took silver in the 200m, finishing ahead of Lyles, who settled for bronze.

Now, as Bednarek sets his sights on the Miami leg of the Grand Slam Track series, his challenge to Lyles has set the stage for a fierce campaign.