Josh Kerr ended a sensational season by being crowned Britain’s first winner at the Ultimate Championship with a dominant 1500m victory – and earning $150,000 – as the inaugural edition of athletics’ new global event concluded in Budapest.
Kerr smashed the 27-year mile world record at the London Diamond League and won Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow this summer, after beginning an outstanding year by reclaiming the world indoor 3,000m title.
In the shape of his life, Kerr swept past American Yared Nuguse on the back straight in Hungary and would not be denied once he had made his move to the front, taking victory in three minutes 29.35 seconds.
“I am a major championship guy and I will always say that,” Kerr, 28, told BBC Sport.
“From seven weeks ago in London, I went home, I chopped wood and carried water and I was ready to go again.
“Sometimes you have to come out of it to dig deeper and go further in life. Two weeks before [a race] I try to do something to get me out my routine and then I push myself for the last few weeks. If I didn’t finish with a win, then that was on me.”
The 2023 world champion did not qualify by right for the Ultimate Championship, which is reserved for reigning global champions, Diamond League winners and others based on world ranking.
He was instead awarded an exceptional invitation by World Athletics, alongside rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen – although the pair’s eagerly-anticipated reunion did not transpire after the Norwegian withdrew following his 5,000m win on Friday.
Kerr was peerless as he seized the opportunity to put on one final show this season – and take his share of the biggest prize pot in the sport’s history.
Over the past three nights, the world’s top athletes competed for a new title and a total prize fund of $10m (£7.4m) at the innovative event, which World Athletics president Lord Coe hopes can play a key role in shaping the sport’s future.
More to follow.
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