TOPSHOT – US’ Kenneth Bednarek celebrates after finishing second in the men’s 200m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
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Last month, during a Zoom interview, Kenny Bednarek told me he “expects big things” from the trials. Staying true to his words, on the second day of the U.S. Track and Field championship, Kenny Bednarek secured his 100-meter national title in 9.79. Highlighting his consistency for the season, Bednarek surged in the last 30 meters of the race and claimed his first national title. The Wisconsin-based sprinter managed to set a new personal best with this performance and is the second-fastest sprinter in 2025 behind Kishane Thompson (9.75)
“I would say it’s about damn time,” Bednarek said, as he is heading to Tokyo after an exceptional season so far. The sprinter believed in his “ability to win after being second for a long time.” The 28-year-old was followed by Courtney Lindsey in 9.82 and T’Mars McCallum posting a time of 9.83, respectively.
Bednarek’s winning streak this season will undoubtedly add more depth to the 100-meter lineup at the 2025 World Championships. His biggest competitor in the category, Noah Lyles, has already qualified for the event as a reigning world champion. After the prelims, Lyles decided to pull out of the event to focus on his marquee event, the 200-meter, despite having a bye in the event as well.
At the Paris Olympics, Bednarek finished 7th in 9.88. However, for this season, Bednarek figured out what works best for him both physically and mentally. “I feel like I figured out how to run my race the way I want to and mentally just be in the zone every single time I step on the track. Just going into 2025, it was just focusing on those two things, just executing my race, and mentally just staying in the zone.”
At the Grand Slam track, he created history with a three-for-three winning streak. At the final leg of the event in Philadelphia, he clocked a time of 9.86 and tied the world lead. He also entered the USATF finals with the fastest time in prelims. Posting a time of 9.95, he is the first man to break the sub-10 in the prelims. He is currently the seventh-fastest sprinter in the category, according to World Athletics.
Kenny Bednarek, who aims to “double this year,” will now focus on the 200-meter event. The men’s 200-meter semis will be aired on NBC and Peacock on Sunday.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/parasjan/2025/08/02/kenny-bednarek-continues-his-100-meter-win-at-ustaf-championships/