Josh Kerr sends out a bold message after defeating rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the Prefontaine Classic 2024

Josh Kerr defeated Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the Bowerman Mile at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic. With this win, Kerr silenced rivals, like Ingebrigtsen, doubting his ability to challenge the Norwegian middle-distance runner.

Josh Kerr, 26, has been in top form since the 2023 World Championships, where he bested the 1500m indoor world record holder, Jakob Ingebrigtsen. In the latter's absence, Kerr added the 3000m gold to his medal tally at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. But his first indoor race of the season at the Milrose Games stopped the clock in a world record time of 8:00.67 in the two-mile.

This was an achievement for Kerr but did not receive much credence from his rival Ingebrigtsen, who said, "I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded" in a Norway TV2 interview. In response, Kerr had the perfect way to snap back by winning the Bowerman Mile in a new British record time of 3:45.34, shifting the two-mile outdoor world record holder to 3:45.60.

Taking to his Instagram handle, the 26-year-old Tokyo Olympics 1500m bronze medalist posted photos of his winning moment and heartwarming frames with fans. But his caption was directed at all those who doubted his ability to run to victory.

"doubt me now," his bold statement read.

In a news conference ahead of the Prefontaine Classic, Kerr clearly stated that he aims to be the best in the world and doesn't care if anyone throws wrath. He added that if his race would annoy people, it is because they're trying to walk in his footsteps.

"I’m here to run a fantastic mile that will hopefully go down in the century. I’m here trying to be the best in the world. … And if that annoys people or ruffles up competitors, I’m sure it will because the whole world is trying to do what I’m doing.”

"It’s no shock that Jakob has had the best of me" - Josh Kerr on racing against Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Day 1 - World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023

Josh Kerr smashed the 29-year-old long-standing British record of Steve Cram, who had held the record time of 3:46.32 for all these years. Interestingly, Cram was witnessing his record being broken sitting in the commentator's box.

Having bested Ingebrigtsen, Kerr is set to pace up in the upcoming races but he also agreed that the latter brings the best out of him on account of the riveting rivalry.

"It’s no shock that Jakob has had the best of me a lot recently in my career. “But I’m finally getting to a point where I feel confident in what I’m doing and the consistency that I have, and I’m ready to be the athlete that I’ve always wanted to be," Josh Kerr said in a news conference before the Eugene Diamond League.

The Olympics is just 60 days away, where the track titans will look to race against each other again.