Fred Kerley Arrested for Alleged Battery, Kenneth Bednarek Runs Windy 9.79s

It was an unfortunate weekend for Fred Kerley, who was slated to run in the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Grand Slam Track competition in Miami this past weekend. Instead of running, he was arrested for allegedly punching his former girlfriend and hurdler Alaysha Johnson in the face. The altercation occurred in front of the hotel where Johnson had an appointment with her conditioning coach, as reported by Reuters. Kerley didn’t get a chance to step on the track.

Alaysha Johnson was registered in the 100m hurdles at the same competition.

This isn’t the first legal trouble that Kerley has faced this year. He was previously arrested on January 2nd for an alleged altercation with a Miami Beach police officer in which the police officer eventually used a taser on him. Official charges included battery, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct.

Details of this weekend’s altercation between Kerley and Johnson are still emerging.  

On Sunday, Kerley released a statement in which he writes:

“While there was a physical alteration, my arrest was not due to any criminal act. Rather, it resulted from my decision to exercise reman silent until legal counsel was present. I chose not to speak to law enforcement without my attorney, and for that reason alone I was booked.”

Although it may not have been the weekend that Kerley expected, Bednarek proved that he’s already in great form early in the year.

Ultimately, Kenneth Bednarek came home with the fastest 100m time of the competition with a slightly windy 9.79s (2.4m/s tail wind). Although the wind was above the legal limit, it would have been a large personal best for Bednarek and the fastest time of the year.

The Jamaicans Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake rounded out the top three with times of 9.84s and 9.85s, respectively.

Bednarek also ran the fastest time in the 200m with a wind-legal 19.84s time.  Bednarek already holds the eighth-fastest time in history in this event.