Josh Kerr boosts British hopes in opting to run at World Indoor Championships
Josh Kerr, the world 1500m champion, has given British athletics a major boost by deciding to run in the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow that start on 1 March.
The 26-year-old Scot, who last week shattered Mo Farah’s world two-mile indoor best by nearly three seconds, had been on the fence over whether to compete given his overwhelming focus for 2024 is on the Paris Olympics and he trains in the United States. However, he has now opted to run in the 3,000m, where he is likely to face an immensely strong field that could include the world indoor record holder, Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia, as well as the fast improving US champion, Yared Neguse.
Sadly, there will be no rematch with Jakob Ingebrigsten, who Kerr beat at last year’s world championships in Budapest, as the Norwegian is recovering from an achilles injury. Ingebrigsten – who holds the outdoor twomile record of 7min 54.10sec – further stoked the fires of their rivalry last week by insisting he could have beaten Kerr, and his indoor world best two-mile time of 8:00:37, while “blindfolded”. It followed the Scot’s comments in January that Ingebrigsten had flaws “on the track and the manners realm”.
Laura Muir will be hoping to add to her tally of world medals after being named in the women’s 3,000m field, while Jemma Reekie has a strong chance in the women’s 800m. Britain’s other real medal-shot will be Molly Caudery in the women’s pole vault. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form in 2024 and cleared a world lead of 4.85m at the UK Indoor Championships at the weekend.
The 21-strong British squad was confirmed by Paula Dunn, the Olympic Head Coach. “This is a really exciting squad that includes global medallists as well as athletes who will be hoping to make an impact on the world stage for the first time,” she said.
Eyebrows will be raised that Kerr is the only individual British medallist from last year’s outdoor world championships team to be in Glasgow. Many notable names – including Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson – have decided to skip the event to concentrate on their preparations for the Paris Olympics.
British team for World Indoor Championships
Women: Cindy Sember (60m Hurdles), Laviai Nielsen (400m) Jemma Reekie, Isabelle Boffey (800m), Georgia Bell, Revee Walcott-Nolan (1500m), Laura Muir (3,000m), Molly Caudery (pole vault), Morgan Lake (high Jump). 4x400m: Hannah Brier, Hannah Kelly, Jessie Knight, Laviai Nielsen, Lina Nielsen, Ama Pipi.
Men: Jeremiah Azu (60m), David King, Tade Ojora (60 hurdles) Callum Elson, Adam Fogg (1500m), Josh Kerr (3,000m)