It took 2,116 days, but last night 1500m World Champion Josh Kerr set a new 800m PB. By doing so at the second Grand Slam Track of the year, he won $100,000 in the process.
Grand Slam Track has done many things. For Josh Kerr, one of those is bring him a PB over 800m (and a $100,000 payout in the process). That is exactly what happened at the second of four meetings, in Miami this weekend.
You have to go back to 2019, and over 2,000 days, since his previous was set – 1:45.35. Now, it sits at 1:45.01 – a time that moves him up eight places on the British all-time list. Naturally, one can argue it is not his most frequently raced distance. However, that’s not to say we don’t see him compete over two laps. Since that PB was set, he has raced over 800m ten times, excluding indoor races and heats (for example of the British Championships). Over one third of a second feels a large jump for an athlete of his calibre. That can, partially at least, be attributed to the field that, thanks to Grand Slam Track, he was part of.
If you’re looking to run a fast time, having Marco Arop – the fourth fastest man in history – to tow you around is no bad thing. That’s exactly what happened, with Arop wining the race in 1:43.69. Kerr finished fifth. Between them, Yared Nuguse and 800m specialists Peter Bol and Kethobogile Haingura.
Photo: Howard Lao / Grand Slam Track
Second Race
A day earlier, Kerr won the 1500m in 3:34.51. Those two results, combined with the finishing places of the rest of the field, saw him secure the points needed to be named ‘Slam Champion’ – and win the $100,000 that comes with it.
Encouragingly, the Scot finished over one second faster than he did in Kingston. On that day in early April, a first race after injury, he finished fifth. The progress since then is evidence, with eyes firmly set on the big prize of the year; defending his World Championship title.
The finish line celebration was large. Perhaps unsurprising, given notably it is the first time he has won a non-championship 1500m. A first place finish is something that has eluded him at every Diamond League meeting he has contested over 3.75 laps. Yes, he won the Bowerman Mile at last year’s Eugene Diamond League – but let’s exclude the extra 109m as a technicality. It’s not as if Grand Slam Track has assembled a weak field, either. Olympic Champion Cole Hocker, fellow medallist Yared Nuguse and 800m specialist Marco Arop join Kerr as the four ‘racers’. This weekend’s meeting saw Timothy Cheruiyot – the 2019 World Champion – join as a ‘challenger’.
Until yesterday, Kerr had never beaten Nuguse outside of a championship (in four previous meetings), and Hocker only once. It can only be a confidence boost moving towards Tokyo. What is most exciting is we get to see the four compete against each other at least twice before Tokyo, over both distances! One definite positive of Grand Slam Track.
Photo: Matt Pendleton / Grand Slam Track
The next Grand Slam Track meetings take place in Philadelphia (30 May-1 June) and Los Angeles (27-29 June). Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse and Marco Arop will race over both 800m and 1500m. Four ‘challengers’ for each meeting will be announced in coming weeks.
