EUGENE, Ore. – A pair of former Taylor High School stars will be on center stage as Fred Kerley will compete in the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships on July 6–9 with Jarvis Anderson in the U20 showcase.
FRED KERLEY
Since Fred Kerley is the 2022 World Champion gold medalist in the 100-meter dash, he will get a bye in that event for the upcoming 2023 World Athletics Championships held in August in Budapest, Hungary. Kerley will still be in Eugene to compete in the 200meter against other top American runners like Erriyon Knighton, Michael Norman, Kenneth Bednarek and Courtney Lindsey.
Kerley last competed on June 2 in the Florence Diamond League with a sensational time of 9.94 seconds in the men’s 100-meter dash, edging out Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya (10.05 seconds) and former Baylor University standout Trayvon Bromell (10.09 seconds) to continue his dominant stretch in 2023.
Representing sportswear company ASICS, Kerley will compete at 6:43 p.m. on Saturday, July 8 in the men’s 200-meter first-round event. The semifinals will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 9 with the 200meter finals later that night at 9:30 p.m.
Kerley, who has now won the 100-meter and is aiming for a sprint double gold at the World Championships in Budapest, has huge plans for himself including setting his sights on Usain Bolt’s 100-meter and 200-meter world records.
JARVIS ANDERSON
Jarvis Anderson concluded his high school track and field career with an incredible showing at the UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin. After winning the boys’ 110-meter hurdles event with a mark of 13.64 seconds, Anderson set a new Class 4A conference record in the 300-meter hurdles en route to a gold medal with a blistering time of 35.96 seconds.
This week in Eugene, the speedy Anderson will compete in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in both the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles and will have the opportunity of a lifetime to secure a spot on the USATF team. His most recent time in the 400-meter hurdles, a personal record of 52.68 seconds, currently is third best in the nation.
Anderson, who happens to be deaf, graduated from Taylor this year and will be a two-sport standout for Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches for both football and track. He was also chosen as the Central Texas Athlete of the Year Award winner presented by the Austin American-Statesman.
Financial donations for Anderson and his interpreter for the trip with airfare, lodging, food and transportation are accepted by contacting T.L. Garner at 512-545-0583, CashApp at $tlgarner65 or Venmo at @TL-GARNER.
