Josh Kerr lays down Olympic marker with world indoor title in Glasgow
Josh Kerr ended Scotland’s 31-year wait for a world indoor title anddid so on home turfas he stormed to 3,000 metres gold in Glasgow.
Kerr powered away on the final lapto win comfortablyin seven minutes 42.98 seconds, with defending champion Selemon Barega fading down the final straight as he was beaten to silver by American Yared Nuguse.
After disappointmentfor Laura Muir in the women’s 3,000m final earlier in the evening, Kerr’s victory sparked huge celebrations in the Emirates Arena.
“I think I burned more energy celebrating than I did in the race, which is a bit embarrassing,” Kerr, the world 1500m champion outdoors, said on BBC Sport. “This competition is so important.
“I’ve come to championships before not ready to have a real go at it and I feel I’ve let the UK audience down a bit in the way I’ve performed in front of them. It was really important to come here fit and ready to go and really execute.
“I came in without a solid plan, just really fluid. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t acting emotionally.
“I kept a patient head and then I could really send it with 400 metres to go.”