How Josh Kerr celebrated British title as world champion makes mission admission

Josh Kerr became the British 5000m champion at the weekend and immediate turned his attention to defending his world title in Tokyo next month

Josh Kerr celebrated winning his second British title on Sunday night by having a barbecue with his nearest and dearest.

But while family and friends tucked into meat and beers, the reigning 1500m world champion stuck to water and salad, his only treat pushing back bed time by 90 minutes from the usual 9pm.

And if Kerr, who was a class above when winning the 5000m in Birmingham, retains his global crown in Tokyo next month another summer of sacrifice will all prove worth it.

“I’ve been on a mission this year to win another world title,” he says. “It’s very, very difficult and I’ve got a lot of respect for how difficult it’s going to be.

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“These races are hard. You have to have everything right, you need to be smooth and confident. But you also have to enjoy these little moments when they come.”

That it was only Kerr’s second British title – following on from the 1500m in 2021 – means the medal will be cherished more than many will assume.

“What we’ve lost over the last few years at British Champs, because we’ve been given a bye into major championships, is the pride of having British titles,” he adds.

“I’ve only gotten one British title in my career before and they actually mean a lot to me.”

After his brief and modest celebrations, Kerr was heading right back to his base in Albuquerque and he does not plan to race again before the Tokyo heats on September 14.

“I’ve shown I’m sharp, there’s not much need for another one,” he says, which is something not many of his competitors can boast about presently.

Fierce rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen is yet to line up this summer because of injury, fellow Brit George Mills is recovering from a broken wrist and may choose to focus on the 5000m.

Both Yared Nuguse, bronze medallist in Paris last summer, and Hobbs Kessler, who was fifth, failed to qualify from the cut-throat US trials on Saturday with two relative unknowns in Jonah Koech and student Ethan Strand booking their spots instead.

“Front running against those college guys, running 3:30, is not easy,” Kerr added. “It’s shown at every world champs and Olympic Games. The US team is one of the best in the world but I’m in a very lucky position. But I made my own luck this year by having the world title.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Dobson is dreaming of having two Brits on the 400m podium in Tokyo, admitting: “It would be an incredible achievement.”

The Colchester athlete, 25, retained his British title on Sunday with Olympic and world medallist Matt Hudson-Smith given an exemption because his wife is due to give birth in the US.

And should they both finish among the top three next month it would be the first time since Osaka 2007 that two Brits won medals in the same event – following in the footsteps of Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders in the women’s 400m.

“That would be such a big deal,” Dobson said. “I’m not brilliant with my athletics knowledge but I don’t remember the last time it happened.”

Dobson defeated Hudson-Smith for the first time last month at London Diamond League with both among the fastest five in the world so far this season.

And Dobson admits having Hudson-Smith as both a team-mate and rival is spurring him on. “Matt’s a phenomenal athlete so any chance I get to race him is a privilege. I love doing it. Just having the chance to beat him once proves he’s human at the end of the day and everyone can be beaten if the race goes how you plan it to go.”

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