Paris (France) (AFP) – World mile record holder Josh Kerr says he "loves racing" and he aims to sign off a spectacular season with victory at the Ultimate Championship this weekend -- but he shrugged off criticism from his old foe Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Issued on: 09/09/2026 - 17:04
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Kerr smashed the 27-year-old mile mark with a 3min 42.66sec clocking in London in July, bettering the time set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.The US-based Scotsman followed that up with a triumphant victory in the mile at the Commonwealth Games in front of an admiring Glasgow crowd.As a result, Kerr did not take part in the European Championships two weeks later, sparking an outburst from Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian who has won Olympic golds at 1,500 metres and 5,000m.Ingebrigtsen, who did run in Birmingham after returning from an 11-month injury layoff, said he was "very disappointed" that Kerr was not at those championships, suggesting it was "ruining the sport" if athletes avoided each other.
Josh Kerr wins the mile in front of a home crowd at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow © Andy BUCHANAN / AFP
