Proud member of the Brooks pro athlete team, Brooks Beasts, Kerr delivered a fast race with nerves of steel as he used his stellar kick to move up on the final curve and hold his lead to the finish line at the 2023 World Championships.
After such a commanding performance, you just have to #believethehype.
Going into the World Championships Josh Kerr was ranked number 7 in the World and in great form.
He calmly made is way through the Heats and Semi-Final of the World Championships in the 1,500 metres and toed the start line for the 1,500 metre World Final in Budapest, Hungry on the 23rd of August live on BBC 1. Josh placed 5th at the 2022 World Championships and 3rd at the 2020 Olympics.
A quick paced race initially led by Kenyan Asbel Kipsang and then taken on by pre-race favourite and number 1 ranked in the World Jacob Ingebritgsen from Norway at the 500-metre mark.
Kerr commented post-race “It was fast early but I stayed calm,”
This lead of Ingebritgsen was held going into the final lap at a quick pace of 2.35.89.
Ingebritgsen held his lead on the back straight reminiscent to the 2022 World Championships where he was out paced by Brit Jake Wightmen.
With 200 metres to go Kerr took his chance and hit the lead but was rebuffed by Ingebritgsen which led to both runners being neck and neck as they entered the last 100 metres.
Kerr pulled away over the last 50 metres to take the victory in a time of 3.29.38 to Ingebritgsen 3.29.65.
“I knew I was capable of a world championship gold medal and with 50m to go I kind of broke him. It was just about holding form at that point. Quick cadence”.
Kerr erupted at the finish line in front of a group of friends, family and Training partners all wearing Josh Kerr Great Britian shirts and was instantly presented his medal on the track by 1,500 great Lord Seb Coe.
Going into the race Kerr believed the win could be his. “You have to believe. When I was standing on that start line and if you watch the video back I kept saying to myself, it’s my turn, its my turn”.
When asked if he ever doubted himself his response “not really, it’s been a long, long time coming and win or loose I knew I had the basic fundamentals to be a World Champion. The last couple of months its been the best training I’ve ever had, I’ve been on an insane diet, its been unforgiven. There was corners cut.”
Josh Kerr ran the race in the Brooks Hyperion Elite LD set to be released in the UK in 2024
Josh Kerr has become Great Britain’s 3rd Male World Champion over 1,500 metres following Steve Cram (1983) Jake Wightmen (2022).
Kerr followed hot on the wheel of Wightmen winning in 2022. Wightmen and Kerr where teammates as young athletes at the Edinburgh Athletic Club and are both still members of Athletics Club
ends
About Brooks
As a brand that exists to inspire everyone to run their path, we're proud to support Athlete's career, and we celebrate Josh being crowned World Champion as a significant moment for our brand. Our Brooks Beasts Athletes inspire us all to follow our own journey—inside and outside of running—even if we're not all competing against the globe's fastest athletes!
Brooks Running sells its performance footwear, apparel, run bras and accessories worldwide. Brooks’ purpose is to inspire everyone to run their path by creating the best gear, tools and experiences. Founded 1914, Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and is headquartered in Seattle.
Visit http://www.brooksrunning.com for more information or follow us on social media @brooksrunninguk.
PR Contact
For more information, time with Josh or product samples please reach out to Laura Price via laura.price@brooksrunning.co.uk or on 07706 355 766.
