Josh Kerr capped off a stellar year with a 1500m triumph at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
The Scot, who set a new mile world record in July, held off Australian runner-up Cameron Myers on the home straight to cross the finish line in three minutes, 29.35 seconds and add to the world indoor 3000m and Commonwealth mile titles he claimed earlier this year.
The win also earned Kerr 150,000 US Dollars (£110,828) in prize money.
In the weeks leading up to these inaugural Ultimate championships, the race had been billed as a showdown between Kerr and his old rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who had not gone head-to-head across 1500m outdoors since September 2024.
Both were granted special exemptions to compete in Budapest, in the same stadium where the Scot pipped the Norwegian favourite to the world title in 2023.
Kerr’s primary focus this year was his attempt at becoming the fastest miler in history and his home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and only added Budapest to his plans after determining he was fit enough to extend his season.
Ingebrigtsen, who had undergone surgery in February for a long-standing Achilles issue, emphatically announced his return from an 11-month lay-off at last month’s European Championships in Birmingham, where he defended his 5000m title.
The Norwegian was one of the first to claim one of the Ultimate’s 150,000 USD individual prizes, winning the 5000m on Friday night, but on Saturday announced he was going to miss the 1500m after determining it was one race too many.
Kerr, who initially looked to be boxed in, finally found a gap and moved up to third position by the 900-metre mark, pulling in front for the first time on the back straight of the final lap.
Myers found another gear on the home straight, but Kerr fulfilled the promise he made last week when he declared “I won’t lose”, and beat the Australian by 0.33s.
