Josh to race in Birmingham and Eilish in London; Laura tipped for strong return

Saturday 26th March 2022

Photo via British Athletics/Getty Images

Josh Kerr will go up against world indoor champion Samuel Tefera at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Olympic bronze medallist and Scottish national record holder (3:29.05), Josh is ranked second on the British all-time list behind Mo Farah and is a former European U20 champion (2015) and World Championships finalist (2019).

Based in Seattle with the Brooks Beasts, the 24-year-old races sparingly but often does so with maximum impact.

He took down the British indoor 1500m (3:32.86) and mile (3:48.87) records in Boston in February and goes into this summer as a proven championship racer with a realistic focus on winning medals.

‘Making the podium in Tokyo might have been a surprise to some people, but it wasn’t a surprise to me,’ said Josh.

‘I don’t race too often, but I build consistent training blocks. I’m not one for big training camps and expensive facilities; but I work hard, and I have great belief in myself. I just keep my head down and stack the good days.

‘I’ve enjoyed running fast this winter and I definitely want to continue that form and take down the British outdoor 1500m record.

‘But it is winning medals this summer that counts. My goal in Birmingham is to lay down a marker for the rest of the season as I prepare for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.’

Alongside Kerr, the international contingent will be led by newly crowned world indoor 1500m champion Samuel Tefera. The Ethiopian who successfully defended the global title he won in Birmingham in 2018.

Birmingham Diamond League tickets

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Photo via Great Run

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Eilish McColgan and Charlotte Purdue will headline the elite women’s field at the Vitality London 10,000, which returns on Monday 2 May for the first time since 2019

The Vitality London 10,000 course starts on The Mall and passes some of London’s most famous landmarks before finishing by Buckingham Palace.

This will be three-time Olympian McColgan’s debut at the event. She has been in incredible form on the roads recently, setting a European women’s-only 10km record last September when she won the Great Manchester Run in 30:52.

McColgan has continued that form in 2022 and in February moved past Radcliffe in the British all-time rankings for the half-marathon when she ran 66:26 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.

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Photo by Garry Bowden

Laura Muir can recover from injury to chase a double of World Championship and Commonwealth Games gold, UK Athletics head coach Christian Malcolm has predicted.

The Olympic 1500m silver medallist was one of many big names watching last weekend’s World Indoors in Belgrade from the sidelines following a back injury that cut short any plans to compete early in 2022.

Forced to take a complete break from running and maintain her fitness in the swimming pool, the Scottish star has four months to get back up to speed before the worlds in Oregon.

And Malcolm, who oversaw two bronzes for GB and NI team in Serbia, is hoping the comeback is speedy and successful.

‘I’m hoping to see the same as everyone else, a fit Laura Muir being out there competing at the highest level and the highest stage,’ he told the Herald.

‘Laura made a great breakthrough last year in winning her first major global medal outdoors in Tokyo. I am pretty sure Laura is focusing and looking to continue that form.’

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Tags: Birmingham, Birmingham Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, Josh Kerr, Laura Muir