American sprinter Kenny Bednarek narrowly edged Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in a tightly contested 100m race at Kingston’s National Stadium, the first of two sprints on Seville’s home soil.
Nicknamed “Kung-Fu Kenny,” the American clocked a wind-legal 10.07 seconds to secure victory in the men’s 100m on day one of the Grand Slam Track Kingston meet, held Friday, April 4.
This time, the duel was even tighter, with both sprinters appearing almost inseparable as they lunged toward the finish. Despite a shaky start, Bednarek showcased his trademark resilience, recovering in the latter half of the race to secure the win.
Seville, beaten in the final strides, finished second in 10.08 seconds—just one hundredth of a second behind Bednarek in a photo finish that mirrored their close showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the American had also bested the Jamaican by 0.03 seconds for seventh place.
Although Bednarek stumbled slightly during his acceleration phase in Kingston, he recovered strongly, finding a top-end speed that proved decisive in securing the win under the lights.
Reflecting on his performance, Bednarek admitted that his block start was far from perfect.
“My block starts have improved a lot this year, but that race didn’t really show it,” Bednarek said afterward. “I struggled a bit, but at the end of the day, a win is a win.”
The two-time Olympic silver medallist now shifts focus to the 200m on Saturday, April 5—an event close to his heart, having earned both of his Olympic medals in the half-lap sprint.
However, the 200m is far from settled. Seville will be eager for redemption, while Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, who finished third in the 100m, remains a strong contender poised to disrupt the top ranks in Kingston. Track fans are in for another electrifying showdown.