Josh Kerr does not subscribe to the old proverb warning of the dangers of trying to ride two horses at once. The 26-year-old Scot is the headline act at the world indoor championships in Glasgow, where he is seeking to add a 3,000m title to his world outdoor 1500m gold. But he also doesn’t mind stirring the pot again with his great rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who has not travelled to Scotland due to injury.
On his US visa, Kerr is described as an “entertainer”. It is a title he lives up to on and off the track. “I’m here to put on an exciting race and go out and win,” he says. “I’m in fantastic shape and I think I’m going to be a real problem for whoever’s on that 3,000m start list.”
Kerr’s performances over the winter back that up. He ended the year by running a half marathon in 61 minutes – and then in his sole race in 2024 he shattered Mo Farah’s world two-mile indoor best by nearly three seconds while showboating at the finish.
But he knows he will not have it easy on Saturday night against two world-class Ethiopians, Selemon Barega and Getnet Wale, and the rising US star Yared Nuguse. It is to Kerr’s great credit that he is prepared to roll the dice away from his strongest event. But it is also clear he relishes the competition.
“Nuguse is going and some very competitive Ethiopians have shown they can run mid 7:20s and close very well,” says Kerr. “It’s gonna be a great race and that’s why I signed up for it. I haven’t signed up for an easy win or anything like that. I’ve signed up for another hard race at the world championships.”
Kerr will race on Saturday, just after Laura Muir runs in the women’s 3,000m final, and the Emirates Arena will be rocking in the expectation of two home medals. The pole vaulter Molly Caudery, who has gone higher than any woman in 2024, will also be among the favourites on Saturday in what could be a special night for British athletics.
The GB team are hopeful of a fourth medal with Jemma Reekie among the favourites for the women’s 800m, while Georgia Bell could yet spring a surprise in the 1500m.
It is just a shame that Ingebrigtsen, who Kerr beat at the world championships in August, will not be in Glasgow as he is still recovering from an achilles injury. The pair have engaged in several rounds of verbal sparring during the winter, with Kerr questioning Ingebrigtsen’s manners and the Norwegian claiming he would have beaten Kerr’s world two-mile indoor record running blindfolded.
“I don’t think it really cuts too deep on either end,” says Kerr. “There’s no ill will towards him. It’s just I’m a competitive guy and I want to win and so sometimes that comes out in different ways. But I think he’s in a similar situation.”
But when asked about the rivalry by the Evening Standard, Kerr is more blunt. “Us 1500m runners are an interesting breed,” he says. “We all have got quite big egos, we all want to win and we think we’re the best ever.
“We’re not in a contact sport, so it’s this weird balance of all this shit-talking and going out and running fast. It’s fun and hopefully it’s interesting for people to watch.”
There is certainly plenty to watch at this weekend’s indoor championships, which are brimming with quality. Twenty reigning world champions are set to feature, as well as seven gold medallists from the Tokyo Olympics.
For good measure, there are also seven world record holders competing too, including pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, Karsten Warholm in the 400m and Grant Holloway in the 60m hurdles.
The event begins with a bang on Friday night with two of the best sprinters in the world, Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman, going head to head in the men’s 60m. But, inevitably, British eyes will mostly be drawn to Kerr, who insists that success hasn’t changed him.
“There’s a lot more external noise now but internally this has always been the goal and this is the athlete I always thought I was,” he says. “The noise has gotten a bit louder, but I am focusing on myself and making sure that I can compete at the highest level.”
And as Britain’s most compelling male track and field athlete prepares to get back in the saddle again, the confidence is undeniable.
“We’re going in fighting fit and we’re really tapering for this one,” he adds. “So there’s no excuses on my behalf if things don’t go the way I want them to. I’m focused on trying to get a gold medal for our team and do that in front of a home crowd.”
