EUGENE, Ore. — With about 700 meters to go in the Bowerman Mile, British middle-distance running star Josh Kerr changed the script in one of the most compelling rivalries on the track. Because the message needed to be sent. Because Kerr has heard enough from Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian superstar, who has declared that he has no equal. Because beef brings out something extra in its competitors.
So Kerr made his decision early.
“I think it scared the coaching staff because they clearly told me not to do it,” Kerr said later. “And I said, ‘If I think it’s time, I’ll go.’ … I don’t really listen to other people when it comes to race strategy. I’m going to follow my instincts.”
At the start of the second round, Kerr was in the lead. He ran past Jake Wightman from Great Britain. Former American Yared Nuguse. Former Ingebrigtsen. He overtook Abel Kipsang from Kenya. In the final 600 meters of Saturday’s marquee race and final race at Hayward Field in the Prefontaine Classic, Kerr left his fiercest opponent behind. A rebuttal without words. He boasted of his confidence and training. He challenged the world No. 1 to catch him.
Ingebrigtsen couldn’t. Not that day.
Kerr clocked 3:45.34, setting a up-to-date world-leading mile time and a up-to-date British record. What was most intriguing, however, was the layer of newness it added to the competition. Kerr’s move Saturday changed the chessboards in a developing chess match between the world’s best middle-distance runners, adding more suspense to what’s possible in the medal showdown in August in Paris.
What a run for Josh Kerr!
This is a up-to-date British record for the men’s mile.#BBCAthletics #EugeniuszDL pic.twitter.com/lDnHddRWEe
What a run for Josh Kerr!
This is a up-to-date British record for the men’s mile.#BBCAthletics #EugeniuszDL pic.twitter.com/lDnHddRWEe
It was Ingebrigtsen’s second consecutive defeat against other elites. So you just know his A game is coming. The reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 meters will react just like the champions.
On Saturday, he ran 3:45.60 in the mile, his first success since an Achilles tendon injury forced him to miss the indoor season.
“I tried to fight him,” said Ingebrigtsen, whose last race was the 3,000 meters at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic in September. “But for me today was all about time trials. Of course we are racing, but there is definitely a difference in the approach to this race. For some, this is the last test before the Olympic Games in Paris. But this is not my last test. It’s certainly a massive difference in the way we all view this race. But it’s a good fight.”
There was so much talent in this race that it was called the “Mile of the Century.” Amazon follows Ingebrigtsen with cameras, documenting the Norwegian star’s preparations for Paris. It was the most stimulating fight of the year. The eyes of the sporting world were on them. And it was Kerr’s debut at Prefontaine.
On Friday, he made it clear that he came to the University of Oregon looking for Norwegian smoke.
“I’m not here to ease the tension,” Kerr said. As he said this, he was seated on his left: Ingebrigtsen. The stern look on Kerr’s face and the lack of conciliation in his tone revealed his level of quite.
“I’m here to run a fantastic mile, which I hope will be within the century. I’m here, trying to be the best in the world. … And if it upsets people or pisses off the competition, I’m sure it will because the whole world is trying to do the same thing I’m doing.”
To discharge the tension? NO. This is the hottest beef since Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
And yes, Kerr listens to Kendrick.
“Yes, of course,” he said with a smile, confirming that he understood the reference.
Kerr was going to raise the tension as much as possible. He is convinced of his superiority in discipline. Coming to the front so early was the kind of suspense that fuels this juicy soap opera.
He usually plays the role of kicker. It’s Ingebrigtsen who starts early and challenges the rest to keep up. It’s a power move. If his competitors can save energy while he carries the burden of setting the pace, and yet they are unable to catch him, it will only prove his dominance. But this time Kerr didn’t delay. He was trying to strike a chord and it would probably be stern.
“I’m having fun with it,” Kerr said. “At this point in your career you’ll always look back and think, ‘Those were the glory days.’ And I know they are there now. So I just enjoy it as much as possible. “
It was covered with a field. The world’s best time – the best in the calendar year – was achieved by Prefontaine Nuguse during the Millrose Games in Modern York in February with a time of 3:47.83. On Saturday at Hayward Field, Wightman matched that time and finished fifth. Seven runners finished under 3:49.
However, after three of four laps, Kerr, Ingebrigtsen and Nuguse took the lead. It was emphasized that this trio going to Paris is the Substantial Three of the middle distance.
Nuguse, the American record holder, was third in 3:46.22. He is for sure J. Cole in this one. By far the most delighted of the three, Nuguse stayed aloof from hostility. He maintains an amusement park smile, as if painted by a caricaturist. Suitable for a future orthodontist. Consumes only positive vibrations. He would rather share Pokemon or vibes with Taylor Swift than engage in competitive banter.
Operating in the shadows as an underappreciated threat is, Nuguse says, one of the benefits of all the attention on the tension between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen. He believes this makes him hazardous in Paris.
“I have always believed that happiness is a stronger emotion than anger,” Nuguse said Friday. “Especially when you’re racing. Anger is something that comes, goes and disappears very quickly. But I think if you’re really enjoying what you’re doing and having fun, that’s what motivates you to keep moving and really helps you in those last 200 meters. I’ve always thought this way and it’s always worked for me.
Citius Athletics Magazine has a full schedule of the Kerr-Ingebrigtsen beef, which began in earnest in August 2023.
But to cut the long story low, it started at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Ingebrigtsen became a global star when he challenged and won gold in the 1,500 meters in 3:28.32, beating Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot. Kerr used a overdue attack to take bronze.
Then at the 2022 world championships in Eugene, with Ingebrigtsen still basking in golden glory, Wightman stunned him in the 1,500 meters, pulling away in the final 300 meters to snatch the gold from Ingebrigtsen.
Josh Kerr leads Jakob Ingebrigtsen during the 1,500 meters final at the 2023 World Championships. Kerr defeated his rival again on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon (David Ramos/Getty Images)
This made the 2023 World Championships in Budapest another crucial stage for Ingebrigtsen on the road to regaining his status as superior. However, a overdue surge by Kerr, similar to Wightman’s, pushed Ingebrigtsen back to silver. After the defeat, Ingebrigtsen said he was not 100 percent prepared, taking a bit of the shine from Kerr’s breakthrough victory.
Asked later if he was looking forward to a rematch with Kerr, Ingebrigtsen revealed he was not fully well and rejected the notion that Kerr was at his level, calling him “just another guy.”
In November, Kerr returned fire. He said that Ingebrigtsen’s ego is quite high and he has stern weaknesses that he should better deal with, otherwise he would not have won gold in Paris.
In February, Ingebrigtsen told a Norwegian-language publication that he would win “98 times out of 100” against Kerr and Wightman.
Two weeks later, when Kerr set a up-to-date two-mile world record at Millrose, Ingebrigtsen – then absent due to injury – declared that he would have beaten Kerr blindfolded.
In March, Ingebrigtsen decided that his rivals were irrelevant and – he told the British daily The Times.“The biggest problem is drawing attention to people like Kerr. That’s what he’s looking for. He lacks something in himself that he looks for in others.”
Yes, tensions have been building for almost a year now. Saturday was not the time to alleviate this situation. But let’s let the feet do the talking. The full room of seasoned race fans at Hayward Field was practically salivating with the palpable tension. Olympic-level drama at the Diamond League competition. What happened on Saturday in Prefontaine only makes their reunion in August all the more enchanting.
“Some of my competitors,” Ingebrigtsen said, “have clearly taken a step in the right direction. But it’s not as massive a step as perhaps needed to be a favorite in Paris.
(Top photo of Josh Kerr defeating Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Saturday at the Bowerman Mile: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
