Akaniiiii… Akaniiiii… if you’ve been following sprinting this year, you’ve heard that name on repeat. Akani Simbine is not just running races, he’s owning them in every way. Since 2025 started, the guy’s been almost unstoppable, hitting the podium in nearly every 100m race. First, second, or third, you name it. And with such tough competition heating up, the question on everyone’s lips is: when will Fred Kerley, fresh off his win at the Canarias Athletics Invitational, finally take him down? The showdown between Kerley’s 9.76s and Simbine’s 9.82s is inching closer, and fans can barely wait. What? Yes!

The stage? The Wanda Diamond League in Rome, returning this June 6 with a men’s 100m lineup that’s pure fire. Think Simbine, Kerley, plus lightning-fast stars like The men’s 100m lineup is stacked with speedsters: Akani Simbine, Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala, Emmanuel Eseme, Christian Coleman, Letsile Tebogo, Jeremiah Azu, Kishane Thompson, Brandon Hicklin, and Lachlan Kennedy, all ready to battle it out. The race is about more than just times, it’s about bragging rights, momentum, and who will own the summer sprint scene. The buzz on X is electric, and everyone’s gearing up for one of the biggest sprint events of 2025. But can Fred win this time?

Looking at the season so far, Simbine has held the upper hand. Remember Fred Kerley’s recent loss to him? Just a week ago at the Rabat Diamond League on May 25, Simbine ran a solid 9.95 to grab first place. Kerley? He had to settle for third at 10.07, right behind Ferdinand Omanyala. But that win marked Simbine’s third straight victory over Kerley this season. Ouch. But Kerley’s recent form tells a different story; he’s fired up and hungry for payback, and the Rome meet could be the perfect chance to flip the script. So what’s next?

Three wins down, Fred Kerley’s fire ignites after Canarias’ triumph

Akani Simbine has had Fred Kerley’s number so far in 2025, and honestly, it’s been impossible to miss. First, there was that Suzhou Diamond League race on April 27, where Simbine surged past Kerley and Christian Coleman in the last 20 meters to take the win in 9.98 seconds, with Kerley trailing behind in third at 10.11 seconds. Then came the Atlanta Grand Prix on May 17, where Simbine wasn’t just fast, he was blistering, smashing a 9.86-second finish and leaving Kerley in his dust again. But hold up, Kerley’s not just sitting back. Over in Tenerife, he lit up the Canarias Athletics Invitational with a dominating 200m win at 20.17 seconds, proving that his comeback streak might be just getting started. So the big question now: can Kerley finally flip the script on Simbine?

Let’s not forget what makes these two such thrilling rivals. Simbine’s personal best is a slick 9.82 seconds, set during the insanely close Paris 2024 Olympic final where he narrowly missed the podium. The guy’s a legend in his own right, the first sprinter to break 10 seconds for 11 straight seasons, beating even Usain Bolt’s record. On the flip side, Kerley is no stranger to greatness either. With a personal best of 9.76 seconds, he’s one of the fastest men alive and a former world champ, having grabbed gold in the 100m at the 2022 World Championships. Plus, he’s got Olympic hardware from Tokyo and Paris, and a crazy fast 43.64-second 400m time that shows he’s got speed and endurance in equal measure.

The battle of the 100-meter sprinters will be fought on June 6 at the Wanda Diamond League in Rome. All year, Simbine was the man to beat, but Kerley is gaining speed fast, which means the competition for world titles will be extremely close. Will Kerley come out on top, or will Simbine yet again show why he is one of the most reliable sprinters in the past ten years? Only time will reveal what happens.