"I'm better than last year - and we'll see that" - Josh Kerr
The man with the golden spikes signed off his first morning’s work of the Paris Olympics with a declaration on Friday (August 2). “I’m definitely better than last year,” said world 1500m champion Josh Kerr. “And we'll see that.”
The Briton was entitled to be in particularly buoyant mood, having looked impressive in negotiating the first qualifying stage – and his first 1500m race of the year – with ease.
Kerr clocked 3:35.99 to win the first heat in 3:35.99 and was displaying the body language of a man not lacking in confidence. His arch rival and reigning Olympic champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, also qualified after coming third in heat three in 3:37.04.
The Norwegian arrived for his post-match press duties wearing a face mask. Given that he claimed to have been ill when losing out to Kerr in Budapest last year, the precautions taken when speaking to the media scrum were perhaps understandable.
Both men employed similar race strategies in a front of the near capacity Stade de France crowd, opting to stay out of trouble at the back of the pack before surging through to make sure of the top six finish that would bring qualification to the semi-final stage.
“I stayed relaxed and when it was time to go, I put the burners on … maybe a little bit too hard,” said Kerr. “I thought everyone was going to be battling with me. But I felt exactly how I thought I would, and it was a reassuring thing.”
On the eve of the event, Kerr hadn’t ruled out a degree of showmanship coming to the fore but perhaps the biggest message he wanted to send out to the competition came from his feet – in particular the Brooks spikes he was wearing that were covered in golden flashes.
"These are the spikes my team are able to make me, these are my custom colourway," he said."Being able to run for a smaller brand allows you to get personalised stuff. I’m very excited about these spikes, I think they’re one of the fastest in the world."
Ingebrigtsen had also issued some more barbed comments about the Scot, describing him as “the Brit who never competes” – a reference to how selective Kerr is when it comes to his races.
The Olympic bronze medallist from 2021 responded with a knowing shrug.
“Everyone can have their own opinions,” he said. “I have no problems with that and I will hopefully be able to be remembered for something slightly different than that. Hopefully that’s medals, fast times and fun battles, head-to-heads.
“The problem is that people compare me to everyone else, but they should be comparing me to myself from previous years previous. I'm exactly how I did when I came through into Budapest and into Tokyo all these different places and that's why I run my best and that's how I compare myself.”
Kerr was joined by his team-mate Neil Gourley, who finished just behind Ingebrigtsen in fifth place of that heat with 3:37.18. This is the Scot’s first taste of the Olympics and the last time he sampled the Stade de France was as a rugby fan, seeing his team slide to World Cup defeat at the hands of Ireland last autumn.
Gourley vowed to return and place himself at the heart of the sporting action next time – and was true to his word.
“It was something else,” he said racing in front of so many people. “I didn’t take it all in until after the race, to be honest. I had a wee look up and to see so many in the seats for a morning session of athletics was incredible. Physically I am in the best spot I’ve ever been in.”
Many of the other big names also came through unscathed, but it was a day of mixed fortunes for others. The likes of Australia’s Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare and Britain’s George Mills now have to turn their attention to tomorrow evening’s repechage round – a new addition to the programme that replaces the fastest loser’s qualifying system – in which the top three of each will progress.
The day’s action had begun with the men’s decathlon, which had been specifically scheduled with French star Kevin Mayer in mind. With the world record-holder being forced to withdraw from the competition on Thursday due to injury, much of the home crowd’s support was channelled in the direction of Makenson Gletty.
He sits in 11th after three events, with Germany’s Leo Neugaberger leading the way on 2876 points, ahead of defending champion Damian Warner’s 2798 and the 2786 of Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme.
Meanwhile, Canada’s world champion Ethan Katzberg was out in front when it came to men’s hammer qualification with 79.93m, ahead of the PB 77.78m of fellow countryman Rowan Hamilton.
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