Josh Kerr has revealed he was left off the six-person shortlist for the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after winning the 1500m title at the World Championships. The 28-year-old Edinburgh-born runner said he was 'massively disappointed', with the award going to Mary Earps.
Since then, Kerr has produced a remarkable run of form. Just a fortnight ago he became the fastest miler in history at the London Stadium, clocking 3:42.66, and he followed it up with Commonwealth Games gold in the one-mile final at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
SPOTY ambitions
Now Kerr is hoping to add the Sports Personality of the Year trophy to his collection. His rivals for the December prize include Jude Bellingham, Rory McIlroy, Matt Weston and Luke Littler.
"I'm trying not to build my expectations prematurely for this, though I would absolutely love it," Kerr said. "It would be a huge privilege for me, especially since we've seen incredible athletes emerge this year across the Winter Games, the World Cup and all the major rugby tournaments. It's tough to stay on par with those incredible competitors, so my plan is simply to stay focused on my own performance, and I just hope people recognise my accomplishments to date."
1500m world record in sight
The middle-distance runner also set his sights on another global benchmark. His mile time of 3:42.66 knocked nearly half a second off Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:43.13, set in Rome in 1999. Now Kerr wants El Guerrouj's 1500m record of 3:26.00 from 1998, which has stood for 28 years.
"That's clearly our next major target," Kerr said after his Glasgow victory. "However, I have to be mindful of my physical limits. Ultimately, I'm only human, and the upcoming schedule doesn't offer many opportunities to make a realistic attempt. Because of that, I plan to huddle with my coaches to figure out what is feasible for the remainder of the year. Physically and mentally, I am in a fantastic place. I feel fine, though this stretch has definitely been exhausting. Fortunately, I don't have any underlying injuries and remain in peak condition, but I must acknowledge the immense physical demand of the past fortnight. I promise to be completely transparent once we finalise our strategy."
Ultimate Championship decision
Kerr also indicated he could compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September. Asked whether he would race in the Hungarian capital, he said: "I think it's entirely possible. We'll be making that choice within the next week or two, and I'll be completely upfront about it. I'll make a public announcement very soon to confirm whether or not I'll be racing."
