Josh Kerr won the 1500m title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, adding another major honour to his stellar year and collecting a prize of 150,000 US Dollars – the equivalent of £110,885.
The 28-year-old Scot held off Australian runner-up Cameron Myers on the home straight to cross the finish line in three minutes, 29.35 seconds. The victory adds to the world indoor 3000m and Commonwealth mile titles he claimed earlier this year, following his new mile world record set in July.
Kerr reflects on Ingebrigtsen's absence
Kerr was gracious in his assessment of rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s decision to sit out Sunday night’s showdown. The Norwegian decided it was one race too many following his comeback from an 11-month injury lay-off, which saw him win European and Ultimate 5000m titles in just under a month.
“I want to roll this into 2027 and 2028,” said Kerr. “These are the peak years that I spoke about with Brooks (Kerr’s sponsors) for the first time in 2018, and we’re really starting to get some momentum going, but I’m a human being and I understand the highs of the sport are often followed by a lot of really lows in the sport.”
“I had that in 2025, I’m not taking it for granted, and we still want to go after that world record at 1500m.”
Focus on the mile and Commonwealth Games
Kerr and Ingebrigtsen 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's comeback and decision to withdraw
Ingebrigtsen, who underwent surgery in February for a long-standing Achilles issue and had to pause training for months after a May setback, emphatically announced his return with his European triumph last month in Birmingham. On Saturday, he announced he was going to miss the 1500m, deciding he did not want to push his luck too far.
“It’s a difficult one for me,” said Kerr. “He’s gone out and run a very impressive 5K, and then he’s taken advice from his team as to the longevity of his season, the longevity of his career. I think he is a good sport.”
