Gold rush by Beamish
Hamish Kerr found the ideal place to focus on next jump
George (Geordie) Beamish has his breakthrough world title, taking gold in the 1500 metres on a double-gold day for New Zealanders at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow.
The young Hawke’s Bay athlete, who was schooled at Whanganui Collegiate, ran a personal best 3 minutes 36.54 seconds to edge American rivals Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler as they ran 3m 36.69s and 3m 36.72s respectively.
It capped a remarkable day for New Zealand after Hamish Kerr earlier won gold in the high jump.
The Us-based Havelock North runner’s achievement was not even in his specialist event — Beamish is targeting the 3000 metres steeplechase at the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.
The race, not televised in NZ, was described by World Athletics featured a “scintillating final lap”, saying Beamish had won the race “from the depths of hell”.
Beamish, who has recently set national records over 3000m and 5000m, wasn't expected to contend for the medals in Glasgow.
However, he bided his time and went into the final lap in seventh place, before surging home in the final straight to take the title in a personal best time.
The 27-year-old US based Kiwi has enjoyed a fantastic indoor campaign to start 2024, which included breaking the long-standing New Zealand national 5000m record in Boston in January.
Meanwhile, nerves got to high jumper Kerr on his way to world glory in Glasgow, forcing him to spend some time in the bathroom during the competition.
The 27-year-old Christchurch athlete produced a performance of near perfection to claim the biggest honour of his career so far with victory at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
Kerr shattered the New Zealand record, equalled the Oceania record and set a world leading height of 2.36m to strike gold.
Kerr, who is known for his fun approach to training and competition, admits that was far from the case yesterday.
“I wasn’t calm and relaxed,” he said. “I knew I was in good form, I got a really good feeling from the track straight away (during warmups), but it was about trying to calm the nerves.
“I knew I needed to focus on myself today and, in a sport where there are so many other things going on, the only thing I can control is my emotion and technical cues.
“I did go to the bathroom a few times to just sit there and do a bit of breathing work and bring myself back to the present.”
Kerr now returns home for the National Championships before heading back to the Northern Hemisphere for the Diamond League season.
New Zealand finished the event with two gold and two silver medals, the best ever haul at the championship. Pole vaulter Eliza Mccartney and shot putter Tom Walsh won the silver medals.
New Zealand debutant Maia Ramsden finished 10th in the women's 1500m final.