- Written by Richard Winton
- BBC Sport at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow
Dominant Kerr wins world indoor 3000m championship
Josh Kerr navigated the raucous Saturday night atmosphere in Glasgow with the nonchalance of a man who knows his place. He was aware of these World Indoor Championship scenarios among his peers.
So did his competitors on the track next to him. They nervously awaited the start of the 3000m final, staring down at Britain’s outdoor world 1500m gold medalist. He was the man to beat. He is the eldest boy.
The 26-year-old casually ignored them, as did several peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters who were awkwardly forced off the finishing straight by two bemused stewards.
Protected by a sunshade, Kerr was allowed one last glimpse of the arena where he competed the last time he “finished around sixth in the Scottish division.”
However, times have moved on. That little boy is a big man. And the big man is probably the best male middle-distance runner in the world.
Kerr’s rampage to win his second world gold medal in nine months eloquently illustrated that point. BBC commentator Steve Cram declared: “From 400 meters out he could have had a gold medal in his pocket.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Edinburgh native sat in the pack for the first 11 laps, taking the odd bump, elbow and push as the field fought hard for position behind Selemon Barrega and Getnet Wale. The slow pace suited him.
And with four games remaining, Kerr decided enough was enough. Moving menacingly onto the shoulders of the leading pair of Ethiopians, he looked like he could run past him at any moment, but he remained calm until the bell rang.
Barrega resisted at first, but Kerr roared on the outside and was burned on the back straight. It was a brutal execution.
A slight smile appeared on his lips as he entered the home straight, but he gritted his jaw and ran through the line in 7:42.98.
Josh Kerr says winning 3,000m gold medal was ’emotional’
Kerr became the first Scottish athlete to win world indoor gold since Tom McKean and Yvonne Murray did it 31 years ago. His immediate reaction was to seek out Saltire, who bundled up as the Glasgow crowd looked stunned.
It was important to do this. But doing it here meant it was more important. “It’s a great feeling to come home and be proud and it’s a full-circle moment,” he told BBC Scotland.
“I think I expended more energy celebrating than I did during the race, but it was a bit embarrassing. I wanted to be careful not to act emotionally. I tried to stay calm and really pushed myself in the 400 meters.” Takeaway . “
The way Kerr claimed victory was reminiscent of the physique of reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen when he won gold at the world championships in Budapest in August.
In the months since then, the Norwegian has had a thing or two to say about Kerr, who has offered a sharp point or two of his own sportingly.
There’s a lot of fun there that will only increase as this summer’s Olympics approach.
Ingebrigtsen has not visited Glasgow this week, but events will not escape his attention. These would have been yet another reminder that Kerr is capable of upgrading on the bronze medal he won in Tokyo three years ago.
“This is a huge stepping stone to bringing home more gold medals for Scotland, Great Britain and Team GB,” Kerr said of the success.
“All you can do is make yourself available when the golden opportunity arises, and that door opened today.
“After Budapest, I knew I had the ability to go back home and do something special. I wanted to show that it is possible.”
“I want to show the next generation of runners that you can be a champion if you come from here.”