World Athletics Championships: Josh Kerr plans to continue the rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen in Tokyo
Josh Kerr embarks on the 1500m event at the world athletics championships as a man to beat.
The Olympic silver medalist is the defending world champion. The Scotsman begins his campaign in Tokyo with the heats on Sunday morning, before the semi-finals on Monday and the final on Wednesday afternoon.
“I am very excited by the prospect of entering another world championship,” said Kerr Sky Sports News.
“What a privilege. What a privileged position, I worked hard to go, to be the guy with the crown and seeks to defend the title,” he added. “This is where some spirits are going. For me, I may have a target on my back, but I have a roadmap in my pocket. This is how I see things.
“These championships are already difficult without giving you some problems to start.”
As hard as to win a gold medal in the world championship in 1500m, it is even more difficult to win a second.
“Even in recent years, the people who have won him, they barely come back to the final next time. It is really difficult to stay healthy,” said Kerr. “It’s difficult. There are many variables in a 1500m race.
“You can go out in mind if you focus only on your race plan,” he continued. “These fairy tales find it difficult to materialize. But what are you going to do today to get there? This is how I look at my career.
“I try not to think too much, to focus on every day as it happens and I am filling good at the moment.
“I will be able to win these world championships from the point of view of fitness. This is what my execution will look like and it is the funny part for me.”
Josh Kerr plans to continue his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the world athletics championships in Tokyo
Even if the two were turned upside down by the American Cole Hocker at the Olympic Games last year, Kerr expects to continue his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen in Japan.
“I heard that he was going to be in these championships and I expect him to be in the form of a world record. This is how I approach things. Nothing will shock me,” said Kerr. “Just the pure laser focuses on work at hand. There are not many other things that happen in my life.
“This is my playground, but it is fully concentrated, fully involved. This is what I do, no matter how difficult it is, no matter the variables that are thrown in my own way, you focus on your work. I love this pressure.
“I am ready to run the best in the world for their best.”
