Loss is a learning moment, says Taylor’s Kerley
PARIS — The United States Track and Field men’s 4x100-meter relay team was unable to make the podium Friday, Aug. 9, as the quartet of Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Taylor’s own Fred Kerley did not medal.
The Americans had a botched baton exchange between the first-leg Coleman and second-leg Bednarek that led to a disqualification for the pass during the Olympic Games.
Bednarek left early and received the baton from Coleman outside of the designated zone.
“We practiced a lot. Me and Kenny have been competitors but also teammates a few times over the years,” Coleman said post-race to reporters in France. “We felt really confident going out there. In the heat of the moment, it just didn’t happen out there.”
Canada won the gold medal at 37.50 seconds, South Africa was the runner-up with silver at 37.57 and Great Britain got bronze at 37.61.
“We wanted to do it, we wanted to bring it home. We knew we had the speed to do it. It simply just didn’t happen,” Bednarek said. “But we’re all human beings too, and we’ve been through ups and downs in life. This is just another one of those times where we just gotta keep our head down and keep pushing. I mean, it’s a part of the sport.”
Heartbreak again hit the USA men’s 4x100meter relay team as the Americans have been unable to medal in the event since 2004 and last won gold in 2000.
“We are here to perform and do what USA do best. We didn’t get the job done,” Kerley said to Chris Chavez of CITIUS MAG. “I don’t think we’re disappointed, we’ve just got to learn from this and keep on going.”
Things looked promising for USA in the first-round heat Thursday of the 4x100 as the American quartet of Coleman, Kerley, King and Courtney Lindsay had the fastest time of all 16 teams with a mark of 37.47 seconds.
Kerley concluded his historic stay at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a bronze medalist in the men’s 100meter with a time of 9.81 seconds.
He represents Taylor as a two-time Olympic medalist after he won silver in the 100-meter at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.
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We didn’t get the job done.”
-Fred Kerley
