Marcell Jacobs vs. Fred Kerley: the date of the track challenge is official

Marcell Jacobs will challenge Fred Kerley in Florence

After the back-and-forth in front of microphones and on social media, the date on which the rivalry between Marcell Jacobs and Fred Kerley will see the highly anticipated chapter of the challenge on the track has been made official: as made known by Fidal on Tuesday, in fact, the two super sprinters will be the main protagonists of the Golden Gala in Florence, Italy, next June 2.

“On June 2, the eyes of the whole planet will be on the Ridolfi stadium in Florence for a 100-meter race that promises to be exciting at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala, the third stage of the Wanda Diamond League,” reads the note of the Italian Athletics Federation. “Confronting each other will be world champion Fred Kerley and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, for a mind-blowing match between the winners of the last two global events, the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and the 2021 Tokyo Games. Joining them in a phenomenal cast will be Diamond League champion and world bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell.”

Kerley returns to the Golden Gala after his success in Rome in 2022 (9.92 was his time). Jacobs had beaten him in the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, held in the summer of 2021. Since then a rivalry has been brewing between the two, who have not failed to “catch” each other as much in interviews as through social posts and stories.