COMING OFF A FANTASTIC pair of decisive 19.62 victories at 200 to end the Diamond League season, Kenny Bednarek had established himself as a big favorite for the Ultimate Championship half lap on the meet’s final day.
But the 100? Surely Tokyo World champ Oblique Seville or NCAA champ Kayinsola Ajayi, the only man to beat the Jamaican this year, were the best bets. Yes, Bednarek brought seasonal bests of 9.72w and 9.87 to the table, and a lifetime PR of 9.79. But he had never medaled in a World or Olympic 100 or beaten Seville since spring ’25.
When the final day dawned, however, Team USA had not just one, but two athletes with shots at 100/200 sprint doubles after Kung Fu Kenny’s stellar 9.85 upset victory in the century.
“I will get my sleep in and go back to work tomorrow for the 200m,” he said afterward. “I want to win a double title and make people happy.”
The heats didn’t tell us anything too surprising. Seville won the first with a solid 9.90, hinting that at least a low 9.8 was possible in the final. Lestile Tebogo 9.95 and Christian Coleman 9.96 were the next two, while Brits Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu did not advance.
Bednarek took the second in 9.94, with Ronnie Baker edging Ajayi for the next spot, both with 10.00 times. Veteran Akane Simbine claimed the final qualifier while ’21 Olympic champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs and Ackeem Blake brought up the rear.
In a pre-meet promotional interview, Seville said he would do “whatever it takes to become the Ultimate champion.” He shared his admiration of Jamaican legend Usain Bolt and joked that he would say to him afterward, “I have an Ultimate title and you don’t.”
In the final, Bednarek was slotted in lane 5 right next to Seville in 4, with Tebogo to his right and Ajayi out in 8. Coleman got his usual strong start, then between 30–40, Seville began driving by him. But suddenly there was Bednarek, coming right with the world champ, then powering by at 70 meters.
Holding his half-stride advantage, the 27-year-old roared across the line and halfway around the curve with glorious exaltation. Owner of the last four global 200 silvers, who’d have thought Bednarek’s first international title would be in the 100?
“This one was for the history books,” he said, having noted earlier that a triumph here would be the biggest of his career. “This whole season was about not pressing myself as I did before. I knew that I would have to get out of the blocks quickly today and I did it.”
Meanwhile, Baker — enjoying maybe his best season at 32 and having finished 2nd to Bednarek’s 3rd (behind Noah Lyles) at the U.S. Champs — got out very strong and held on for 3rd at 9.93, just ahead of Ajayi (also 9.93, but 0.004 behind) and Coleman (9.94). He had already earned a trophy for his leadoff leg on Team USA’s winning mixed 4×1.
“It has been a while since I have been on a big world stage in a final,” he said. “I would say I had a really good showing today.”
“I wanted to run faster, but Kenny got the best out of this race and I congratulate him,” said Seville, who still had his idol on his mind. “I didn’t talk with Usain before competing so maybe if I’d talked to him I would have run faster.”
Instead, there was Bolt on the track posing for photos with Bednarek, who — believe it or not — had never met the global icon. “It is really amazing what he did for the sport and what he is doing now by promoting it,” said the Ultimate champ.
UC MEN’S 100 RESULTS
(September 12; wind –0.6)
1. Kenny Bednarek (US) 9.85
2. Oblique Seville (Jam) 9.90
3. Ronnie Baker (US) 9.93
4. Kayinsola Ajayi (Ngr) 9.93
5. Christian Coleman (US) 9.94
6. Gift Leotlela (SA) 9.98
7. Letsile Tebogo (Bot) 10.07
8. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.09.
Heats (9/12)
I(-0.2)–1. Seville 9.90; 2. Tebogo 9.95; 3. Coleman 9.96; 4. Leotlela 10.03; 5. Lachlan Kennedy (Aus) 10.05; 6. Romell Glave (GB) 10.08; 7. Jeremiah Azu (GB) 10.13; 8. Trayvon Bromell (US) 11.34.
II(-0.7)–1. Bednarek 9.94; 2. Baker 10.00; 3. Ajayi 10.00; 4. Simbine 10.05; 5. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 10.11; 6. Ronal Longa (Col) 10.12; 7. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 10.20; 8. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 10.21.
