'I Have Never Shied Away' - Josh Kerr Puts Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Notice Ahead of London Meet

Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Photo. File

'I Have Never Shied Away' - Josh Kerr Puts Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Notice Ahead of London Meet

Evans Ousuru 16:02 - 15.04.2025

Josh Kerr explains why he is unfazed by the competition from Jakob Ingebrigtsen as the duo is set to face off in London.

World champion in 1500m Josh Kerr will rekindle his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the London Stadium this summer.

The 1500m stars have been booked for the London Athletics Meet on July 19, with more than 50,000 tickets already sold for the Diamond League event, which is expected to be a 60,000 sell-out.

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Britain’s Kerr memorably beat Norwegian superstar Ingebrigtsen to win the world 1500m title in Budapest in 2023, after which they became embroiled in a war of words.

Last meeting

Josh Kerr Puts Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Notice Ahead of London Meet
Josh Kerr, the reigning 1500m champion, has been named as part of Great Britain's team for the World Indoor Championships

The duo last met at the Paris Olympic Olympic Games in August 2024 but are set to face off for the first time this year in the United Kingdom.

Two months before the World Championships, the London meet will be an ideal event for the pair to lay down a marker prior to locking horns in Tokyo.

Kerr ,27, told the Daily Mail that he has always strived to be the best and he doesn't shy away from any challenge no matter what.

"I’ve never shied away from the fact that I’m trying. That means winning more titles and running faster times than everyone else.

"None of it comes easy and we’re all working hard to achieve our goals. For me, that includes racing a bit more this summer, but my goal for the year is simple - I want to defend my world title in Tokyo," Kerr, who bagged silver in Paris, pointed out.

He added: "Everything I do between now and then, including lining up at the London Athletics Meet, is focused on achieving that goal."

How has Josh Kerr performed in 2025?

Josh Kerr Puts Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Notice Ahead of London Meet
Josh Kerr takes another shot at Jakob Ingebrigtsen over Paris 1500m loss Image source: Imago

Kerr competed in the first event of Michael Johnson’s new Grand Slam Track series in Kingston, Jamaica last week, finishing only fifth in the 1500m and eighth in the 800m.

Kerr is the 2024 World Indoor Champion in 3000m and holds the world best time in the short track 2 mile, the European record in the short track mile & 3000m, and the British record in the outdoor 1500m and mile.