Josh wins World Indoors gold after stunning final as Laura finishes fifth

Saturday 2nd March 2024

Photo by Bobby Gavin

Josh Kerr claimed World Indoors gold in the Men’s 3000m final in sensational style in Glasgow.

The Emirates Arena was at fever pitch and Josh rode the wave of emotion to win in front of an esctatic home support.

World Champion at 1500m in Budapest last summer, the 26-year-old made the most of his moment of opportunity in the longer distance to win in 7:42.95.

Just behind him, America’s Yared Nuguse pipped the previous title holder Selemon Barega for the silver medal in 7:43.59.

Victory bridged a 31-year gap for athletics in Scotland to savour a World Indoors winner with both Tom McKean and Yvonne Murray having claimed gold in Canada back in 1993.

On a night of high drama, Laura Muir had to settle for fifth place in the Women’s 3000m as she set a Native Record with the second fastest 3000m of her career.

Dutch athlete Femke Bol set a new World Record over 400m and GB and NI’s Molly Caudery won the Women’s Pole Vault to add to Kerr’s gold for the British team.

‘It wasn’t the cleanest race but I got it done,’ said Josh,

‘I feel fit and to get a world title is amazing. I’m pumped. It is unbelievable.

‘The Scottish and British fans packing out the stadium was the loudest it has ever been for me.

‘I knew I needed to keep a calm head and keep the heart rate down as it is a much longer race than I am used to. It was an emotional day out there.’

Photos by Bobby Gavin

The Women’s final featured Ethiopian trio Gudaf Tsegay, Lemlu Hailu and Hirut Meshesha as well as Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech, American Ellie St Pierre and Australia’s Jessica Hull.

It was a stacked field in more ways than one with 16 athletes lining up to take on 15 laps of a track Laura knows so well.

But the leading group always had an advantage over the Scot who had to work really hard to try and close gaps on her way to 8.29.76.

St Pierre won in a Championship Record 8:20.87 with Tsegay and Chepkoech completing the podium.

‘I knew I couldn’t go off too fast that first 1km,’ said Laura,

‘I have made that mistake before. I was catching but I just couldn’t go with it that first 1km otherwise I knew I would be out of the back door.

‘I just had to try and run my own race and unfortunately the pace I was running at and the pace they were running at was different. That is endurance racing for you. I tried the best that I could on the day and that’s all I can do.’

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Photo by Bobby Gavin

Easrlier in the day, Jemma Reekie looked impressive as she cruised into the final of the womne’s 800m in a quick semi-final victory.

Reekie’s indoor season has been slowly building towards a shot at a very first major senior championship medal on her home track and it is now well within touching distance after she won the second of the 800m semi-finals in very comfortable fashion in 1:58.28 minutes.

‘It was perfect planning,’ said Jemma.

‘I am in really good shape, and although I knew it was going to be really tough, I wanted them to know that if they are coming to win on my track, they are going to have to work hard.

‘We have taken each race as it comes. I’ll sit down with Jon [Bigg] and Sally [Gunnell] and work it out together. I think it’ll be a fast one.’

Tags: Glasgow 2024, Jemma Reekie, Josh Kerr, Laura Muir, World Indoors