Kerr Feels 'strong Enough' To Retain World Title

Josh Kerr says it "shows I'm beardown enough" to take sides his 1500m title astatine September's World Championship successful Tokyo aft coasting to triumph successful nan 5,000m astatine nan UK Athletics Championships.

With Kerr already assured of GB action and not moving his preferred distance, compatriot Neil Gourlay was crowned 1500m champion for a 3rd twelvemonth moving connected a time erstwhile Laura Muir suffered a daze conclusion by Livingston's Sarah Calvert successful nan women's event.

Kerr collapsed clear of Rory Leonard pinch 2 laps remaining to travel successful 9 seconds clear of different Englishman, Jack Kavanagh.

Asked what it meant for his world title defence astatine nan shorter distance, Kerr told BBC Sport: "It's decidedly connected nan cards.

"It was a difficult effort and spending 12 and a half laps retired location is simply a spot different and a spot much than I'm expecting, but that mile push hopefully shows I'm beardown capable for 5 weeks time."

Kerr pointed retired nan spot of British mediate region running.

"This title's been British for astir 3 aliases 4 years and it's hopefully going to enactment British for nan adjacent mates of years and it's my occupation to do that," he said aft his triumph astatine nan arena successful Birmingham that doubled arsenic nan British trials.

"We person a awesome group of 1500m guys going aft it arsenic well, truthful we are successful a awesome spot successful nan UK."

Gourlay proved himself champion of nan remainder and said "it feels great" aft beating Englishman Elliot Giles successful a sprint decorativeness to unafraid nan British title for nan 4th clip successful six years.

"It's a spot surreal having that longevity pinch each nan group that person been coming and going done this event," he told Scottish Athletics.

"It's ever nan situation to travel and return attraction of business present successful position of qualification for nan world championships, but nan extremity was surely to triumph and it feels satisfying to do that today.

"To triumph nan past 3 is rather thing fixed nan group I've ended up being up against complete these years."

Jemma Reekie booked her 800m spot successful nan squad for Tokyo, but nan Scot had to beryllium contented pinch 2nd spot down in-form Englishwoman Georgia Hunter Bell.

Meanwhile, Alessandro Schenini took golden successful nan agelong jump, Kirsty Law won metallic successful nan discus and Bera Ajala was 3rd successful nan men's triple jump.