In a stunning revelation that's set the athletics world abuzz, British middle-distance star Jake Wightman has boldly predicted that training partner and rival Josh Kerr is primed to obliterate the iconic British 1500m record in 2024.
The Record in Sight
The current British record of 3:29.67, set by the legendary Steve Cram back in 1985, has stood as a monumental barrier in UK athletics for nearly four decades. Even the great Sebastian Coe couldn't surpass this mark during his illustrious career.
"I think Josh is going to break the British record this year," Wightman declared with conviction. "He's in the shape to do it and he's got the races to do it."
A Fierce Yet Supportive Rivalry
The relationship between Wightman and Kerr represents one of the most fascinating dynamics in modern sport. Both are world-class athletes who train together in Portland, Oregon, under the guidance of coach Danny Mackey, yet they remain fierce competitors on the track.
Wightman, the 2022 world champion, acknowledged the unique nature of their partnership: "We're probably the two biggest rivals in British athletics at the minute, but we're able to do it in a really healthy way."
Strength in Numbers
The British contingent in Portland, which also includes Neil Gourley, has created a powerful training group that's producing remarkable results. This collective approach appears to be paying dividends, with each athlete pushing the others to new heights.
"We've got a good group of Brits out here," Wightman noted. "We're all pushing each other on, and it's showing in our performances."
Olympic Ambitions
With the Paris Olympics looming, the British middle-distance scene has never looked stronger. Kerr's stunning victory over Norwegian phenomenon Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 2023 World Championships final demonstrated that British athletes can compete with and beat the very best in the world.
Wightman himself is working his way back to peak fitness after an injury-disrupted 2023 season, adding another layer of intrigue to the British selection picture for Paris.
A Historic Moment Beckons
The potential breaking of Cram's record would represent more than just a statistical achievement—it would be a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation of British middle-distance runners who have consistently proven themselves on the global stage.
As the athletics world turns its attention to the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Josh Kerr to see if he can turn his training partner's prediction into reality and etch his name into the history books.
