Bowerman Mile: Kerr throws down marker ahead of Olympics

Scot takes British record for the mile with a time of 3:45.32

25th May 2024

In the end, it all came down to the two of them. One of the strongest mile fields ever assembled lined up in Eugene, Oregon for the Bowerman mile on Saturday, but after less than four pulsating minutes of racing, it was the Josh Kerr vs Jacob Ingebrigtsen rivalry that was the topic on everyone’s lips. Kerr once again showed that he can talk the talk and walk the walk, as he followed up a year of escalating tensions with the Olympic Champion by beating him in convincing fashion.

Kerr beat Ingebrigtsen in the final of the World Championships last year and looked imperious when winning the 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in February, but it was the manner of his victory here that really stood out. Until now, there has been a template to beating Ingebrigtsen, showcased not only by Kerr but by Jake Wightman in 2022 - sit on his shoulder going into the final bend, then take advantage of Ingebrigtsen’s perceived slight lack of world-class finishing speed to outkick him. Here, Kerr wasn’t content to win in the tried and trusted way, instead taking the lead with 600m to go and daring Ingebrigtsen to challenge him.

"If I feel like it's time, I'm gonna go" - Josh Kerr

“I think it scared the coaching staff because they told me specifically not to do that,” Kerr said afterwards. “And I said, ‘If I feel like it’s time, I’m gonna go.’ Risky a tactic as it may have been, it will have struck a huge psychological blow ahead of their reunion in Paris - Kerr has now proved he can win in any way he needs to.

Ingebrigtsen certainly sounded rattled in the aftermath, trying to play down the significance of the race. ‘To me, today was all about time trial. Of course, we’re racing but it’s definitely some difference in terms of approach to this race. For some people, this is their final test even before the Olympics in Paris. But this is not my final test.’

Elsewhere, there were standout performances from many of the other contenders ahead of Paris, with seven men breaking 3:49. Great Britain underlined their strength in depth with three athletes in the top five, Jake Wightman continuing his comeback from a year of injury in 2023 with an impressive 3:47, showing the 2022 World Champion can’t yet be counted out, and 17-year-old Cam Myers from Australia broke another age grade world record, his 3:50.15 bettering Ingebrigtsen’s time at the same age. But these achievements were left in the shade by what is building into the biggest middle-distance rivalry since Coe and Ovett. The 1500m final in Paris is going to be one of the most eagerly anticipated Olympic events ever.

Results

1. Josh Kerr (GBR), 3:45.34 (NR) (WL) (PB)

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 3:45.60 (SB)

3. Yared Nuguse (USA), 3:46.22 (SB)

4. Neil Gourley (GBR), 3:47.74 (PB)

5. Jake Wightman (GBR), 3:47.83 (PB)

6. Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (KEN), 3:48.59 (SB)

7. Cole Hocker (USA), 3:48.95 (SB)

8. Geordie Beamish (NZL), 3:49.09 (PB)

9. Oliver Hoare (AUS), 3:49.11 (SB)

10. Mario Garcia (ESP), 3:50.14 (SB)

11. Cameron Myers (AUS), 3:50.15 (PB)

12. Abel Kipsang (KEN), 3:51.82 (SB)

13. Lamecha Girma (ETH), 3:53.82 (SB)

14. Cooper Teare (USA), 3:53.92