Fred Kerley has had quite a few problems with Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track. It all began with his poor performance at Kingston. After winning an Olympic silver and bronze, Kerley raised the anticipation around his performance at the Grand Slam Track. However, he finished 7th, disappointing the entire fanbase and attracting criticism. But getting removed from the meet’s line-up in Miami? That created a larger wave of backlash.
Kerley simply stated, “I’m a 2x Olympian and 3x World Championship Medalist. That’s solidified.” And after that, he’s now come up with a quick jibe at Johnson.
Kerley recently posted an AI image on X showing a man (probably himself) holding a $100,000 golden ticket. In the caption, the sprinter wrote, “Good morning good afternoon I need it by Tuesday.” Well, true that the Grand Slam Track is flipping the script on the track and field finances. The prize pool ranges from $10,000 for the eighth-ranked athlete to a whopping $100,000 for the first-place winner. And that’s the pool for every single annual Slam. With that, Kerley made a sly remark in another X post. “[Grand Slam Track] hope yall having a wonderful day.”
Good morning good afternoon I need it by Tuesday pic.twitter.com/5nxADVqJy5
— Fred Kerley (@fkerley99) August 6, 2025
Kerley’s statements seemed to further stir up the controversy surrounding the financial situation of Grand Slam Track. Johnson has been garnering quite some criticism for putting up a paywall behind the meet’s broadcast. His reason? “Athletes have been asking for more money, more exposure, more opportunities—this is it.”
Boasting a prize pool of $12.6M, Johnson believed that he created “opportunities athletes have always wanted.” But these opportunities aren’t for Kerley.
Kerley’s mess-up ensured his removal from the chance to claim the $100,000 prize, even though his motivation to compete at the Kingston Grand Slam Track meet was to “get paid.” In the end, all he had to say was, “Ain’t too many dogs left in this sport — just folks playin’ fetch.” The reason was nothing but his suspension from the Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia, following his arrest on May 1 in Dania Beach, Florida.
But it’s not all about the friction with Grand Slam Track for Kerley. Let’s take a look at the statement that he issued soon after his legal trouble became the talk of the track and field town back in May.
Fred Kerley opens up on his recent arrest with a message to Michael Johnson’s venture
According to reports, Fred Kerley allegedly struck Alaysha Johnson, his girlfriend, in the face. He was quick to address the situation and stated, “While there was a physical altercation, my arrest was not due to any criminal act. Rather, it resulted from my decision to exercise right [to] remain silent until legal counsel was present. I chose not to speak to law enforcement without my attorney, and for that reason alone, I was booked.”
Needless to say, his statement also included an apology for Michael Johnson. Kerley continued, “I also extend my apologies to Grand Slam Track for bringing the wrong kind of attention to the event, and to those who believe in me and had to see the headlines.” He confirmed that the experience caught him off guard.
But he seemed determined to resolve all problems and clear his name from the controversy. He went on, “I take full responsibility for placing myself in a situation that allowed for this misunderstanding, and I am taking active steps to ensure nothing like this happens again.”
Kerley’s journey with the Grand Slam Track has been anything but smooth. His recent words for Johnson seem like a challenge – “Can Johnson really pay people $100K?” From controversy to candid critique, Kerley isn’t backing down. But can this stance get him back in the line-up?
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