Josh v Jakob 1500m repeat lined up for London Diamond League

Friday 11th April 2025

Josh wins World Champs gold in Budapest in August 2023 (photo by Mark Shearman)

The Rematch is on – British Athletics website story

Josh Kerr will go head-to-head against multiple Olympic, world and European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the London Athletics Meet on Saturday 19 July.

Around 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the meeting and this 1500m clash will add further excitement and and anticipation.

Twice defeated by Scotsmen in the World Championships 1500m – Jake Wightman in 2022 and Kerr in 2023 – Ingebrigtsen twice returned with a vengeance to win the 5000m.

The 24-year-old is a 13-times European senior track champion (indoors and out) and most recently won double gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China over 1500m and 3000m.

Kerr’s 1500m victory at the 2023 World Champs in Budapest – which added to his 2021 Olympic bronze – marked the start of an impressive 12 months for the Edinburgh AC athlete that included World Indoors 3000m gold in Glasgow; Olympic silver and a British record in Paris (3:27.79); a world best time over two miles indoors (8:00.67); and British record in the mile (3:45.34).

Currently two of the world’s highest-profile middle-distance athletes and proven championship performers, the duo will clash for the first time on British soil at the London Stadium.

Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics

‘I’ve never shied away from the fact that I’m trying to be the best 1500m runner of our era, and that means winning more titles and running faster times than everyone else,’ said Josh.

‘None of it comes easy and we’re all working hard to achieve our goals. For me, that includes racing a bit more this summer, but my goal for the year is simple; I want to defend my world title in Tokyo and everything I do between now and then, including lining up at the London Athletics Meet, is focused on achieving that goal.’

Ingebrigtsen, a multiple Diamond League champion who last raced in the UK over 1500m at the 2021 Gateshead fixture said: ‘I love to race, and the London Diamond League is a perfect fit for my schedule. I’ve recovered well from the indoors and training is going well.

‘I’ve never been afraid to show up and it felt good to come away from the World and European Indoor Championships with four gold medals.

‘My focus is now on the summer and returning to Tokyo – where I won my Olympic title in 2021 – to win global gold. Competing in London is a crucial part of my build-up, and I know the atmosphere will be incredible.’

The London Athletics Meet – the world’s biggest one-day athletics event – will be the 11th meeting of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League.

The series, which will pay out a record total of 9.24 million US dollars in prize money, comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents, starting with Xiamen on 26 April and concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).

Buy your tickets now: britishathletics.org.uk/london-athletics-meet-2025