Tokyo : Former 100m world champion and Olympic medalist Fred Kerley has officially pulled out of the 2025 US Track and Field Championships, effectively ruling him out of contention for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 29-year-old sprinter confirmed his withdrawal via a statement on social media on Wednesday, writing, “2025 has presented many hurdles. Taking some time out to get back on track. No USATF Champs this year. Thanks to all my supporters.”
Kerley’s absence from the national championships, which double as selection trials for the World Championships, means he will not be part of Team USA this season. The sprinter had a somewhat mixed season, producing a sub-10 second 100m performance (9.98s) earlier in May but also facing off-track challenges, including reported legal issues, that may have influenced his decision to step back.
Kerley, who won the 100m world title in 2022 and claimed silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has been a central figure in American sprinting over the past several years. His withdrawal alters the dynamics in the fiercely competitive men’s 100m field, opening opportunities for other star sprinters such as Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, and Kenny Bednarek to lead the U.S. charge in Tokyo.
The World Athletics Championships are scheduled to be held in late September 2025, and with Kerley’s absence, the spotlight will now intensify on the national trials, where a new generation of American sprinters will look to cement their places on the world stage .
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