Scotland's Josh Kerr wins 1500m gold at World Athletics Championships

Scotland’s Josh Kerr has taken the 1500m world title after a stunning race at the World Championships.

Kerr, from Edinburgh, took gold with a time of three minutes 29.38 seconds after a battle with Jakob Ingebritsen over the final 300m.

The Scot followed Jake Wightman’s triumph in Eugene last year, and with Wightman missing this year’s event through injury, Kerr took the crown at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.

Kerr told the BBC: “It’s been a long time coming. It’s an overwhelming experience, but I’m so proud of myself, of my team and my family.

“I threw my whole 16 years at that last 200m. I stayed calm, I just wanted to execute a race I would be proud of today. I’m very glad to add to that medal count.

“I was battling with Jakob very hard, you can see by my face I’m throwing everything at this guy, I was hurting. I’ve wanted this my whole life. I’m so happy.

“At about 50m to go I kind of broke him, and it was holding on from that point. I’ve had the (Olympic) bronze (at Tokyo 2020) and the gold is much sweeter.”

Wightman, who was commentating on the race, expressed his delight for his Edinburgh club-mate.

“Our little club in Edinburgh has had two back-to-back world champions,” Wightman said. “That’s hard to believe. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is going to start hating us Brits ain’t he?

“I think Josh Kerr knew what to do there. You saw when he came on Jakob’s shoulder.

“He showed so much promise for so long, that medal in Tokyo was just the start of this. When Josh Kerr gets it right and when he’s running well, he absolutely flies.

“I think Ingebrigtsen underestimated how well he was running at the moment.

“I’m so happy for him. Josh is like the Terminator. His internal confidence is crazy.”