The 2024 track and field season kicked off with trailblazers this year. From Noah Lyles to Khaleb McRae to Grant Holloway and many others, the indoor races witnessed an array of stars setting the standard high for the Olympic year. And among these stars, Scottish middle-distance runner Josh Kerr displayed why he was a force to be reckoned with.
Holding an array of accolades to his name, including a gold medal at the 2023 World Championships, a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and many others, Kerr opened his 2024 season by breaking a stellar record. Days after this powerful display, the Scottish track star also made a bold claim for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Josh Kerr makes an ambitious declaration for the pinnacle Paris Olympics
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According to the BBC, Josh Kerr feels confident about Scottish athletes’ chances at the upcoming Paris Olympics, especially in the 1500m race. He told the broadcasting house how he’s aiming for another Olympic medal himself and said, “It will be tough to even make the team but I’m pretty confident in myself that we’ll have at least one medal in the 1500m and it would be pretty cool to get two. It can be a special year for us.” Josh Kerr has been performing astoundingly well in the past year, and he’s even ranked third in the world.
Last year, he even beat Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, stunning the world, so this bold Olympic goal has only further elevated the thrill for track fans. This fiery claim also comes just days after he broke a long-standing record in his 2024 season opener.
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How Kerr set high standards at the season opener
Josh Kerr made track headlines at the 116th Millrose Games in New York on Sunday, February 11, his 2024 season opener. In the men’s two-mile race, Kerr faced tough competition from Grant Fisher, who set an American national record, but Kerr managed to charge ahead at the finish line, securing the victory with a time of 8:00.67. He not only earned his gold medal, but his time surpassed Mo Farah’s 8:03.40 world record for the indoor two-mile race set in 2015.
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After the race, the ever-bold Josh Kerr stated, “I’m having fun with it, creating big goals to get myself out the door and prove I’m not all talk.” With Josh Kerr already demonstrating his ability to back up his claims with his speed, anticipation mounts among track fans eager to witness his performance on the grand stage of the Paris Olympics, hopeful that he will secure the medal he deserves. Do you think he will earn another Olympic medal? Comment below!
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