I’m not afraid of failure, says Kerr ahead of mile world record bid
· Yahoo Sports
Josh Kerr insists he is “not scared of failing” in his attempt to take down the 27-year-old mile world record on Saturday at the London Diamond League meet.
In March the 2023 world 1500 metres champion announced his intention to break Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of three minutes 43.13 seconds set in 1999 and set a target for this weekend at the London Stadium.
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The Edinburgh athlete is not a betting man but thinks the odds are in his favour as he looks to shave about 2.21secs off his personal best, the 3:45.34 British record he set at the Prefontaine Classic two years ago.
“There’s different breeds of people,” said Kerr. “As an athlete, I’m not scared of failing. It’s not something that I was born with.
“I’m on the attack at all times and I’m bold with what I talk about, but when the figures and the stats behind me are backing up my claims, I don’t see why I can’t go out there and do what my job is. And I think it’s important to tell people what your goals are.
“I think it keeps you honest. It keeps everyone honest within track and field and hopefully I can bring a couple more eyeballs on it as well.
“I’m not fearing that in any way. I’m just going out there and doing what I’ve said that I’m capable of doing.
“I’m trying to do something that no one’s ever done. There’s definitely a risk of failure, but it’s not something that’s on my mind particularly often.”
The 28-year-old currently sits sixth on the all-time list and his competition in London includes Yared Nuguse, the 2024 Olympic 1500m bronze medallist who is two places ahead of him, with 3:43.97 set in 2023.
Kerr, who has been fitted with a bespoke aerodynamic suit and custom spikes for the attempt, believes more than one man could take down the Moroccan’s time on Saturday and it could be a matter of who does it fastest.
He added: “I’m going out there, I’ve had the best camp I’ve ever had in my life, I’ve been able to live a life that I’ve always wanted to live over the last six months in pursuit of this. It’s been focused. It’s been dialled. It’s been surrounded by amazing people and I’ve already won that fight.”
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson had also been targeting a world record in London in her signature event but has endured a difficult few weeks, starting when she was forced to pull out of the 400m final at the British trials with hamstring tightness.
Hodgkinson was cleared by a physiotherapist after that event, but had a freak fall before the Prefontaine Classic two weeks ago, getting into “a fight with a metal grate” and badly scraping both knees, requiring a visit to A&E.
Asked if the attempt was now on the back-burner, she replied: “I haven’t missed any training. I feel quite good. I’m just taking the pressure off myself because I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t need to chase anything just because anybody else wants it to be done.
“I’m in really good shape and in a really good place. I think fast times come from great races. If that’s tomorrow then great, if it’s in a few weeks or next year, I don’t care.
“For me, it’s winning and being back on top, especially after these last couple of weeks when it’s been a bit difficult, so that’s my main focus for tomorrow.”