Kerr Makes Bright Start to Defence of 1500m Crown

Josh Kerr began the defence of his World Athletics Championships 1500m title in fine fashion as one of three Brits to make it through to the semi-finals.

Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) won gold in this event two years ago in Budapest before claiming Olympic silver last summer in Paris.

And he looked comfortable in the opening heat in Tokyo – where he won Olympic bronze back in 2021 – coming through in second place in a time of 3:35.98.

In doing so, he secured safe passage through the heats, as did compatriots Neil Gourley and Jake Wightman.

The reigning champion was understandably happy with his morning’s work.

He said: “It was good to get the first round out of the way, and just enjoy the process. This new call room situation from the warm-up track and everything, we have practised that a lot of times.

“These championships are taking it round by round and you can’t take anything for granted or write anyone off. I had a great time out there, and I was smiling out there.

“This track is really fast so to be able to run 2:01 for the 800, it felt nice and smooth. It was awesome to do a morning session again as last time I did a morning session here I had a bit of a shocker so it was good to put those demons away and focus on the next round tomorrow night.”

Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North) was the second British athlete to make it through as he came third in heat three in a time of 3:42.13.

And the British champion feels like he is coming into his best form at the perfect moment.

He said: “I felt really in control today and felt really smooth which makes a change as that is not how I felt in this outdoor season but the plan was to have my best racing now this whole time, that has involved a lot of patience which I was getting sick of.

“I felt good today and it looks like the plan is sort of paying off in the way I felt.”

Wightman (John Hartigan, Edinburgh), the 2022 world champion, then went in the final heat and sat on the front throughout, winning it in 3:36.90.

After two years of injury struggles, getting through the heats was a testament to his race craft.

He said: “That’s a big thing ticked off because I haven’t done a heat since 2022 so I was very nervous.

“I just believe that I still have a racing brain and I can race, and I’m glad that I’ve shown that this morning, because I needed that. That was a proper heat. It was like how it normally feels, where you have to have your wits about you, but not get too pumped for it.”

Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg, Birchfield Harriers) could not make it four from four for the Brits, as he finished eighth in the second heat of the day in a time of 3:41.60.

Elsewhere, Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts AC) finished 18th in the qualification of the women’s hammer with a throw of 69.35m, just missing out on a place in the final as a result.

Photo credit: UK Athletics / Sam Mellish