Pre Classic (Eugene Diamond League) 2024

Josh Kerr Wins Loaded Bowerman Mile Over Jakob Ingebrigtsen At Pre Classic

Josh Kerr Wins Loaded Bowerman Mile Over Jakob Ingebrigtsen At Pre Classic

Josh Kerr emerged victorious today at the 2024 Pre Classic, winning the Bowerman Mile in a world-leading, personal-best, British-record-setting 3:45.34.

May 25, 2024 by Jennifer Zahn
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Josh Kerr emerged victorious today at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, winning the Bowerman Mile in a world-leading, personal-best, British-record-setting time of 3:45.34. 

To win, he had to beat American record-holder Yared Nuguse, who took third in 3:46.22, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the 2020 Olympic 1500m champion and Kerr's vaunted adversary, who finished runner-up in 3:45.60. 

Kerr's big move for the win happened 600m into the race, when he went to the lead and never looked back.

When asked about that strategy, he said, 

"Because I thought it was a dumb decision. And I knew if I thought it was a dumb decision, then it probably was. And that was going to scare myself and everyone else around me."

Kerr and Ingebrigtsen haven't raced each other in the nine months after Kerr won the world outdoor title in the men's 1500m over Ingebrigtsen, who many considered the heralded favorite. Since then, a rivalry brewed.

How Did Josh Kerr & Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Rivalry Begin?

The two exchanged heated comments about each other indirectly via the media, initially beginning with Ingebrigtsen ascribing his loss to "not feeling 100%" and Kerr later saying that "comes from a place of insecurity." Things escalated from there, ostensibly reaching a fever pitch when Ingebrigtsen told Norwegian media "I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded" after Kerr broke the world indoor 2-mile record at the 2024 Millrose Games.

Amid tension at the Prefontaine Classic press conference, Kerr and Ingebrigtsen sat side by side, but didn't get confrontational. During the breakout sessions, Ingebrigtsen and Kerr spoke more openly about where they stand with each other.

Kerr's second-consecutive win over Ingebrigtsen, who also appears to be in tremendous shape at this point in the season (watch his recent 12x400m, 10x200m altitude workout), further sets the stage for the road to what should be a top-billed men's 1500m final at the Paris Olympic Games. 

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