Fred Kerley facts for kids
Kerley at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene
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| Full name | Fredrick Lee Kerley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 7, 1995 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 205 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team |
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| Turned pro | June 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Quincy Watts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | 1st (100 m, weeks 58) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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Fredrick Lee Kerley (born May 7, 1995) is an American track and field athlete. He is known for being a top sprinter. Fred Kerley has won many medals in major competitions.
He earned a silver medal in the 100 m race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kerley has won three gold medals at the World Championships. These include the 100 m gold in 2022. He has also won medals in the 400 m and relay races.
Fred Kerley is one of only three men in history to run very fast times in three different sprint events. He has run the 100 m in under 10 seconds, the 200 m in under 20 seconds, and the 400 m in under 44 seconds. His fastest 400 m time is 43.64 seconds. His fastest 100 m time is 9.76 seconds.
Contents
Early Life and College Years
Fred Kerley grew up in Taylor, Texas. He went to Taylor High School. He also trained with a youth team called the College Station Sprinters. After high school, he attended South Plains College from 2013 to 2015. Then, he moved to Texas A&M.
In 2016, Fred Kerley tried out for the Olympic team. He didn't make it for individual races. However, he helped the United States win a gold medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the NACAC Under-23 Championships.
In 2017, Kerley became a star in college track. He won the 400 m race at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships. His time of 44.85 seconds was one of the fastest indoor times ever. He also helped his college team, the Texas A&M Aggies, win the 4 × 400 m relay. These wins helped Texas A&M win their first team title at the NCAA Championships. Later that year, he set a new NCAA record in the 400 m with a time of 43.70 seconds. He finished his college career by winning both the 400 m and the 4 × 400 m relay at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
Professional Career Highlights
Starting as a Pro: 2017
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After college, Fred Kerley became a professional athlete in June 2017. He signed with Nike. Soon after, he won the 400 m at the USATF Championships. This qualified him for the World Championships in London. In London, he finished seventh in the 400 m final. However, he helped the US team win a silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
Building Success: 2018-2019
In 2018, Kerley continued to compete. He won the 400 m at the Rome Diamond League event. He also won the Diamond League trophy for the men's 400 m in Zurich. At the World Indoor Championships, he helped the US team win a silver medal in the 4 × 400 m relay.
In 2019, Kerley set a new personal best in the 400 m with a time of 43.64 seconds. This made him one of the fastest men ever in that event. At the World Championships in Doha, he won a bronze medal in the 400 m. He also helped the US team win a gold medal in the men's 4 × 400 m relay.
Switching Focus: 2021
After the 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerley decided to focus on the 100 m and 200 m races in 2021. He wanted to improve his speed. This decision paid off! He ran the 100 m in under 10 seconds for the first time.
At the US Olympic Trials, he finished third in the 100 m. This earned him a spot on the Olympic team. At the Tokyo Olympics, Kerley won the silver medal in the 100 m. He also set a new personal best in the 200 m later that year.
World Champion: 2022
The year 2022 was a big one for Fred Kerley. He won the 100 m at the USATF Championships with a time of 9.77 seconds.
Then, at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he won his first individual World Championship gold medal. He won the 100 m race with a time of 9.86 seconds. This was a huge achievement for him.
Continued Success: 2023-2024
In 2023, Kerley continued to perform well. He won several 100 m and 200 m races in the Diamond League series. At the World Championships in Budapest, he was part of the USA's 4 × 100 m relay team that won a gold medal.
In 2024, Kerley competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He finished third in the 100 m final, which qualified him for the Paris Olympics. At the Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the 100 m race. Later in the year, he set a new meet record in the 100 m at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial.
Personal Life
Fred Kerley's older cousin is Jeremy Kerley, a former NFL wide receiver. In July 2025, Fred Kerley converted to Islam.
Images for kids
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Kerley at the 2018 USATF Indoor Championships
See also
In Spanish: Fred Kerley para niños
