- Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen will race at the London Stadium in July
- The rivals have not faced each other since the Olympic Games last summer
- Kerr beat Norwegian star Ingebrigtsen to win the world 1500m title in 2023
Josh Kerr will reignite his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the London Stadium this summer in a major coup for UK Athletics.
The 1500 metres stars have been booked for the London Athletics Meet on July 19, with more than 50,000 tickets already sold for the Diamond League event, which is expected to be a 60,000 sell-out.
Britain’s Kerr memorably beat Norwegian superstar Ingebrigtsen to win the world 1500m title in Budapest in 2023, after which they became embroiled in a war of words.
The pair then faced off again at last summer’s Olympics, with Kerr claiming silver and defending champion Ingebrigtsen finishing fourth in a race surprisingly won by American Cole Hocker.
The rivals have not met since but will now go head-to-head in London, when both will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
‘I’ve never shied away from the fact that I’m trying to be the best 1500m runner of our era,’ said 27-year-old Scottish runner Kerr. ‘That means winning more titles and running faster times than everyone else.
Josh Kerr will race rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen again at the London Athletics Meet in July
Kerr won a silver medal in the 1500m at the Paris Olympics, with Ingebrigtsen finishing fourth
‘None of it comes easy and we’re all working hard to achieve our goals.
‘For me, that includes racing a bit more this summer, but my goal for the year is simple – I want to defend my world title in Tokyo.
‘Everything I do between now and then, including lining up at the London Athletics Meet, is focused on achieving that goal.’
Kerr competed in the first event of Michael Johnon’s new Grand Slam Track series in Kingston, Jamaica last week, finishing only fifth in the 1500m and eighth in the 800m.
Ingebrigtsen has opted not to join the big-money league but recently completed a double-double of golds in the 1500m and 3,000m at the European and World Indoor Championships.
The London Athletics Meet will be the 24-year-old’s first appearance in the capital since the 2017 World Championships.
‘I love to race and the London Diamond League is a perfect fit for my schedule,’ said Ingebrigtsen, who is also the world and Olympic 5,000m champion.
‘I’ve recovered well from the indoors and training is going well. I’ve never been afraid to show up and it felt good to come away from the World and European Indoor Championships with four gold medals.
Kerr famously beat Norway’s Ingebrigtsen to win the world 1500m title in Budapest in 2023
The British athlete hopes to defend his title at the World Championships in Tokyo in September
‘My focus is now on the summer and returning to Tokyo – where I won my Olympic title in 2021 – to win global gold.
‘Competing in London is a crucial part of my build and I know the atmosphere will be incredible.’
London’s Diamond League event is already the biggest one-day athletics meet in the world.
UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner recently stated how he wanted it to become ‘our Silverstone’ and become a money-spinner for the cash-strapped governing body.
‘It is incredible that we have sold over 50,000 tickets already and are well on track for another sell-out London Diamond League event, proving that the British public cannot get enough of live athletics in this country,’ said Cherry Alexander, strategic lead for events at UKA.
