Josh Kerr capped a sensational season by becoming Britain’s first winner at the Ultimate Championship, taking the 1500m title in Budapest and earning $150,000 in the process.
The 28-year-old swept past American Yared Nuguse on the back straight and held firm to win in three minutes 29.35 seconds. His time broke the 27-year-old mile world record, a mark he had smashed in London earlier this year. Kerr also claimed Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow this summer, adding to his world indoor 3,000m title from the start of the campaign.
Kerr’s Record Year
Kerr’s path to Budapest began in January, when he reclaimed the world indoor 3,000m title. He followed that with Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow and a record-breaking mile performance in London, where he ran in front of 60,000 British fans. He then won the 1500m at the Ultimate Championship in Hungary.
The 2023 world champion did not qualify for the Ultimate Championship by right. That event is reserved for reigning global champions, Diamond League winners and others based on world ranking. Instead, he received an exceptional invitation from World Athletics, alongside rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The Invitation Twist
The Norwegian’s presence was expected to be the highlight of the men’s field. But Ingebrigtsen withdrew after winning the 5,000m on Friday. Kerr’s victory meant the anticipated duel between the two rivals never happened.
Kerr seized the opportunity to put on one final show this season. The prize fund was $10m (£7.4m) across the three nights, and Kerr’s share was $150,000.
Running His Own Schedule
Kerr has faced criticism for not competing as much as other athletes. He calls it “stick,” and he is unapologetic about it.
“I am a major championship guy and I will always be that,” Kerr told BBC Sport. “From seven weeks ago in London, I went home, I chopped wood and carried water and I was ready to go again. Sometimes you have to come out of it to dig deeper inside and go further in life. Two weeks before [a race] I try to do something to get me out my routine and then I push myself for the last couple of weeks.”
He added: “If I didn’t finish with a win, then that was on me.”
The approach has worked. Kerr skipped the European Championships in Birmingham, drawing criticism from Ingebrigtsen. Kerr responded by saying he “was not a robot” and would continue targeting only a few competitions each season to avoid injury and maintain high performance levels.
The Ultimate Championship was not on Kerr’s initial schedule for the year. But World Athletics ensured he could attend, and Kerr took the offer.
A Year Of Firsts
Britain’s first Ultimate Championship title came down to Kerr’s performance in Budapest. Kerr secured the biggest prize pot in the sport’s history with his win.
Lord Coe, president of World Athletics, hopes the event can shape the sport’s future. Over the past three nights, the world’s top athletes competed for the new title and the $10m (£7.4m) prize fund.
Kerr’s status as a blockbuster was on full display in Budapest. He announced his record-breaking intentions months in advance, and delivered a historic performance in front of 60,000 British fans in July.
It is just 12 months since Kerr’s world title defence was ended by a calf tear in Tokyo. But he has recovered to reach career-best fitness, and the next three years provide him with the opportunity to cement himself among the all-time greats.
Two World Championships — the second potentially in London — sit either side of the next Olympic Games. Kerr will continue to ignore the outside noise and follow his established winning formula.
“Obviously I get a lot of stick for not racing so much,” Kerr said. “But it allows me to come here fresh and ready to go.”
Hunt’s Weekend
The women’s events featured their own drama. Amy Hunt produced a season’s best time in the 200m final to end her championship on a positive note, after disappointment in the 100m.
The 24-year-old, winner of four European golds last month, placed eighth in the 100m final on Saturday. She said she did not feel she had done herself “proud” at the time.
But Hunt improved to fourth in the 200m, in a time of 22.10 seconds, as American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed her sprint double. Jefferson-Wooden became the third-fastest woman in history with a 21.47-second performance.
“Yesterday was bad but I came back today and used it as fuel and motivation,” Hunt told BBC Sport. “It was incredible to be part of an incredible race. This is what women in sport looks like; muscles, blood, sweat, tears. It has been really special to prove myself against the best in the world. It was the first time I have won a world semi-final. It is a massive confidence boost.”
Jefferson-Wooden, 25, had run the joint-seventh fastest 100m by a woman in history just 24 hours earlier. Her 200m time was the fourth-fastest ever recorded by a woman.
“I did not see 21.47 coming tonight!” Jefferson-Wooden said. “I was thinking I could run this fast in maybe two years, but not tonight. I really have no words. This result is a good inspiration for the upcoming years.”
Earlier, GB’s mixed 4x400m relay quartet finished second to the USA, thanks to a superb anchor leg by Charlotte Henrich.
The Numbers Behind The Victory
| Event | Prize Pot | Kerr’s Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Championship | $10m (£7.4m) | $150,000 |
Kerr’s victory in Budapest was the culmination of a remarkable year. He set a new mile world record, won Commonwealth Games gold, and now holds Britain’s first Ultimate Championship title. The $150,000 cheque adds to a season defined by big performances and bigger headlines.
His refusal to chase every race has been criticised before, but his selective approach has produced the results. Kerr has built a reputation as a major championship specialist, and Budapest proved his method still works when the stakes are highest.
The next three years will test that theory. With two World Championships and the Olympics ahead, Kerr will continue to do things his way. The outside noise will keep coming, but Kerr knows what works for him.
As he said after his win: “It allows me to come here fresh and ready to go.”
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