Josh Kerr Crowned the Ultimate Champion on Final Day

Josh Kerr produced an outstanding performance to claim the men’s 1500m title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest on the final night.

With Farken (GER) setting the early pace, Kerr and fellow Brit Jake Wightman positioned themselves in the middle of the pack in the opening stages. The mile world record-holder gradually moved around the outside with 600m remaining and, at the bell, had worked his way onto the shoulder of the pack leader Nuguse (USA).

A confident Kerr surged to the front with 300m to go and never looked back. Holding off Myers (AUS) down the home straight, he crossed the line in 3:29.35 to secure the title. Wightman battled hard throughout and finished ninth in 3:31.56.

Speaking to the BBC after the race, he said: “From seven weeks ago in London, I went home, I chopped wood and carried water and I was ready to go again.

“Sometimes you have to come out of it to dig deeper inside and go further in life. Two weeks before [a race] I try to do something to get me out my routine and then I push myself for the last couple of weeks.

“I had a great build and, if I didn’t finish with a win, then that was on me.”

The British mixed 4x400m relay team also delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second in a thrilling contest. Ben Jefferies opened strongly to hand over in third place before Yemi Mary John maintained position as the USA and Netherlands established an early advantage.

Toby Harries fought hard to keep Britain in medal contention on the third leg, holding off Belgium before passing the baton to Charlotte Henrich. The European U23 champion produced a determined anchor leg, overtaking the Netherlands and closing on the USA to secure second place in 3:09.40, just a second behind the winners.

In the women’s 200m final, Amy Hunt produced one of her strongest performances this year, clocking a season-best time of 22.10 to finish fourth as Jefferson-Wooden (USA) stormed to victory in a world-leading time of 21.47.

In the semi-final, Success Eduan produced a gutsy performance from lane two to finish seventh in 22.93, moving up a position after Miller-Uibo (BAH) was disqualified for a lane infringement.

Over 5000m, Hannah Nuttall battled hard in a high-quality field. The Brit started confidently and sat near the front during the opening laps as the field stayed tightly grouped.

The decisive move came midway through the race when the quartet of Ethiopian athletes increased the pace significantly. Nuttall fought on before eventually finishing 12th. She now turns her attention to next weekend’s World Athletics Running Championships in Copenhagen, where she will again represent the Novuna GB & NI team in the 5km road race.