Josh Kerr already eyeing gold after sealing 1500m silver at Paris 2024

Athletics 06 Aug 24

Josh Kerr started the countdown to Los Angeles after claiming Olympic 1500m silver at the Stade de France.

Kerr stormed to a new 3:27.79 national record but was just edged out on the line by American Cole Hocker, while defending champion, Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, just missed the podium.

With silver here and bronze in Tokyo, he would do well to take inspiration from gymnast Bryony Page, who completed her 'set' here with gold last week.

"It's left me really hungry and ready for more," said Kerr.

"This road is not over and I'm already looking ahead to the next one.

"I've medalled in every major championship in the last four years bar one, I'm secure in myself. I will get the medal I want by the end of my career, so here's to Los Angeles.

"I wanted the gold, I got silver. That’s better than bronze and better than nothing."

Kerr is just 26 and Ingebrigtsen and Hocker only 23. In four years time in Los Angeles they could be at the peak of their powers and the sequel to the 'race for the ages' is set to be box office.

"I can't walk away from a championship disappointed," added Kerr.

"I said what my goals were and it was pretty obvious but I've put out a performance that I can be super proud of.

"I ran the fastest and best tactical 1500m of my life and when you start worrying about what other people do, you'll never be satisfied.

"It's not the colour of medal I wanted but it's working towards the right colour from bronze to silver.

"I work on my mental strength day in day out, I was so excited and I knew I could put in a performance I could be proud of. I focused on executing the best 1500m race I could and I did that."

Kerr's team-mate Neil Gourley completed his impressive return from injury, clocking 3:30.88 to finish 10th.

Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita can't wait for this week's 4x100m relay after finishing fourth and fifth in women's 200m final.

"Women's sprinting is really incredible right now. If you go back to 2012, back then, these kind of times would hold up phenomenally well in that era," she said. "It's a great time to be a female sprinter."

Neita, who also finished fourth in the women's 100m final, added: "I'm a double Olympic finalist. Fourth in the 100 by a couple of hundreds and the same again here. I know my time is coming, I just need to be a little more patient."

Meanwhile, Matthew Hudson-Smith looked all business as he eased into Wednesday's 400m final with a confident win in his semi-final.

Hudson-Smith, a three-time world medallist, missed the last Olympics through injury but has looked impressive.

Grenada's Kirani James - who has won gold, silver and bronze in the last three Games - was the quickest qualifier but Hudson-Smith was easing down in his final 30 metres with qualifying secure.

Compatriot Charlie Dobson ran 44.48 in his semi-final but narrowly missed out on a second straight major final after winning European silver two months ago.

Elsewhere, Lizzie Bird carved more than three seconds off the national record in the 3000m steeplechase, clocking 9:04.35 to finish seventh in a high-quality final, whilst Jacob Fincham-Dukes finished fifth with a distance of 8.14m in the men's long jump final.

Sportsbeat 2024

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