Family guy Kerr is glad he went the extra mile

YEARS spent travelling the world have given Josh Kerr a greater appreciation of home comforts. And nothing makes him feel more at ease than being among his family.

The Scottish middle-distance star will have dad John, mum Jill and brother Jake cheering him on as he begins his 1500metres campaign at the British Championships in Birmingham today — the final step towards claiming a Team GB spot at the world championships later this year.

And, while plenty of athletes can count on parents and siblings to applaud and shout from the sidelines, Kerr credits his immediate family with more than just a cheerleading role.

With a nod to the sporting background that runs through the Kerr clan like a tartan stripe, with dad and brother both rugby players of some renown, he told

Sportsmail: ‘All my family are so knowledgeable — and I know that’s not the case with every athlete.

‘Yes, it’s always great to spend time with them. Having my mum cook my meals is nice, for a start! But she’s also very knowledgeable about track, she has a lot of good ideas, so we love to bounce them off each other.

‘My dad is the same and, of course, my brother has a pretty good idea of what he’s doing when it comes to sport.

‘It’s nice just not having to explain to them that I need this amount of sleep or that kind of food.

‘And, of course, they’re the reason I’m here. So it’s

great to have them around for this.’ Kerr (left), who moved to university in Albuquerque — without ever having visited New Mexico — at the age of 17, is a three-time NCAA champion now based in Seattle with the Brooks Beasts team. Being so far away hasn’t meant being overlooked, however, when people in and around Scottish athletics talk about the current crop of terrifyingly good middle-distance stars.

But the 21-year-old, part of a golden generation of Scottish and British metric milers, has always ploughed his own furrow. Including taking the odd giant stride into the unknown.

‘You have to have the right attitude, if you go to the US for college,’ said Kerr.

‘As much as you are becoming a full-time athlete with classes attached, you’ve got to be in the right place for you.

‘I hadn’t even visited the University of New Mexico when I agreed to go there. It was quite a leap of faith!

‘But a former team-mate had been there and said it would be good for me.

‘My parents really helped me make the right decision.’