‘People are always going to be annoyed at change’

The 1,500m world champion Josh Kerr tells Jack Rathborn how he is embracing a new era’ for athletics when he kicks off his Grand Slam Track campaign in Jamaica on Saturday

- Jack Rathborn

Josh Kerr is ready to feel uncomfortable this year, both on the track and in front of the camera, with the 1,500m world champion embracing a year of change.

Just seven weeks ago, the Briton was violently sick and could be heard hunched over in a Boston bathroom. That revealing footage, on Kerr’s newly launched YouTube channel, demonstrated a commitment to lifting the curtain behind the pursuit of greatness.

Kerr and his Brooks Beasts team could be seen agonising over the decision to withdraw from the Wanamaker Mile and a rare world record attempt. Now recovered, after skipping the indoor season, including the defence of his world indoor title over 3,000m, Kerr is embarking on what he describes as “a new era” for the sport.

The legendary Olympic champion Michael Johnson launches Grand Slam Track tomorrow over three days in Kingston, Jamaica, with Kerr ready to not only duke it out over 1,500m but also come out of his comfort zone to battle over 800m, too, thanks to the league’s innovative new format.