Final will be a real battle – reigning champion Kerr

BRITAIN’S Josh Kerr is bracing himself for a “real battle” to defend his world 1,500 metres title after qualifying second from his semifinal behind 20-year-old Dutchman Niels Laros.

- RACHEL STEINBERG

The Scot led for almost the entirety of the first heat in Tokyo, but was beaten after a physical finish, which ended with Laros crossing three hundredths of a second quicker in three minutes 35.50 seconds.

Jake Wightman, the 2022 gold medallist, qualified from the same heat third in 3:35.56, and Neil Gourley scraped through the second semi in 3:36.93 to make it a trio of Scots in tomorrow’s final, on a night at the Japan National Stadium that also saw Sweden's Mondo Duplantis set another new pole vault world record of 6.30 metres.

“I have my work cut out for me, but I feel pretty confident) said Kerr.

“We're getting places. I would say it's one of the most confident I’ve gone into a world final. But each Championships bring their own kind of challenges and fun, and I'll keep doing what I can to show up and medal and go after the gold.

“It’s my title, it will be a real battle for whoever wants to come take it off of me, and I (just need to) keep an eye on the last lap. I’m going to get some work done.”

Olympic champion Cole Hocker, who beat runner-up Kerr to Olympic gold last summer, initially looked to have booked his place from heat two but was later listed as disqualified under rule TR17.1.2 for “jostling” ‘The American's appeal was denied.