Scotland’s Josh Kerr wins world 3,000m title on home soil

World 1,500m champion Josh Kerr came to the 2024 World Indoor Championship to make a statement, and that he did, winning another world title in the men’s 3,000m in front of a Scottish crowd.

Kerr executed a perfect race plan, positioning himself at the front when it mattered, and trusting that no athlete in the field could beat him over a two-lap sprint. Kerr surged past Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega (the Olympic 10,000m champion) around the final bend, sprinting through the line in 7:42.98 to win Great Britain’s first gold medal at these championships.

American Yared Nuguse won the first championship medal of his career, crossing the line for silver in 7:43.59. Ethiopia’s Barega won bronze in 7:43.64.

This medal was personal for Kerr, who was called “just another guy” by his rival, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, after Kerr beat him in the men’s 1,500m in Budapest last year. “This is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my career,” Kerr told Canadian Running on his world indoor gold. “I came here because I knew I was ready to win a world title. You can’t turn down those opportunities.”

The moment Kerr won gold, the roar at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow was unmatched. Kerr immediately sprinted down the back straight, grabbing the first Scottish flag he saw. “I stole the flag off a child; I ‘m going to have to find her and give it back,” laughed Kerr. “I did not know where my family was; I thought the crowd deserved to have a moment to celebrate. They came out in the thousands.”

If you’re wondering where Josh Kerr 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 got his flag, it’s a wild story. It’s a moment one kid will remember forever!#WICGlasgow24 pic.twitter.com/lL7H9FPhih

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) March 2, 2024

When Kerr was asked about his feud with Ingebrigtsen and what this world indoor win would do to the rivalry, he reiterated that he is not thinking about it. “I need to keep believing in myself and giving myself these opportunities to win.”

Kerr won one of two gold medals for the host nation, Team GB, on Saturday night. British pole vaulter Molly Caudery continued her record-setting season on home soil, winning the women’s pole vault with a jump of 4.80m. Canada’s Alysha Newman was one of the athletes poised to challenge Caudery, but was forced to not start after suffering a training injury to her ankle in the days prior.

“I was cooling down from training day and clipped a hurdle, went to the hospital and found out it was a Grade 2 ATFL sprain,” says Newman. “We knew there was going to be pain, but I felt great this morning, but the moment I hit that second gear of picking up bigger poles and sprinting hard, my ankle wasn’t taking it.”

Despite the last-minute injury, Newman says she took a step in the right direction this indoor season as she looks ahead to @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/LUV1E6YUIG

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) March 2, 2024

With Olympic success being Newman’s main focus this season, she was in good spirits about her bouncing back in time for Paris. Through Day 2 at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, Canada’s medal count remains at one, with Sarah Mitton’s gold in the shot put. Lucia Stafford and Kieran Lumb will have a chance to add to that total Sunday evening in the men’s and women’s 1,500m finals.

You can stream the 2024 World Indoor Championships from March 1 to 3 from Canada live on CBCSports and CBC, and the CBC Gem app. Canadian Running will be reporting live from Glasgow, reporting on the action and featuring interviews with athletes as everything unfolds. You can follow our coverage on Instagram or Twitter.