Asafa Powell and Fred Kerley have surpassed Usain Bolt in a unique sprinting milestone that the Jamaican icon never achieved during his illustrious career.
Although Usain Bolt’s legendary tenure included breaking world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, there remains one extraordinary accomplishment that eluded him. This rare feat, running sub-9.80 seconds twice in a single day, has been achieved by his compatriot Asafa Powell and American sprinter Fred Kerley.
Recognized globally as the greatest sprinter ever, Bolt still holds the fastest times in history: 9.58 seconds for the 100m and 19.19 seconds for the 200m, both set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Additionally, he was instrumental in Jamaica’s 4x100m relay world record of 36.84 seconds at the 2012 London Olympics.
Despite Bolt’s extensive list of achievements, including unofficial marks like the 150m world best, he never managed to break the 9.80-second barrier twice within the same day. This exclusive accomplishment belongs to Asafa Powell and Fred Kerley.
Powell was the pioneer of this feat on September 9, 2007, during the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy. He first stunned the track with a 9.74-second run in the heats, setting a new world record, and then followed it with a swift 9.78 seconds in the final later that day. Powell’s career highlights include an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100m relay at Rio 2016, although his legacy was later complicated by a doping suspension in 2014, which was subsequently reduced on appeal.
Nearly a decade and a half later, Fred Kerley joined this elite group. On June 24, 2022, at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Kerley clocked an impressive 9.76 seconds in the semi-finals and followed it with a 9.77-second victory in the final. That same year, he went on to claim the World Championship title.
Kerley’s career has recently sparked debate after he committed to competing in the Enhanced Games, a controversial event that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision. This decision came in the wake of a provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit due to Kerley missing three doping tests within a year.
The first-ever Enhanced Games are slated for 2026, promising lucrative prize money and multi-million-dollar bonuses for athletes who break world records.