Josh Kerr of Brooks Beasts adds world indoor 3000 meter title to his resume in Glasgow...
GLASGOW, Scotland--You can add world indoor champion to the resume of Josh Kerr (photo courtesy Brooks Running).
The native of nearby Edinburgh delighted the sold out crowd at Emirates Arena as the Seattle based member of the Brooks Beasts ran a 25 second last 200 meters to win the 3000 meters in his first appearance at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Saturday night in a time of 7:42.98.
As is usually the case in championship races, the race started modestly, with Notre Dame alum Yared Nuguse of the USA taking the field through the first 400 just under 65 seconds.
Kerr was content to tuck in the middle of the pack through the first half of the race, which was covered in 3:58.05 by Getnet Wale of Ethiopia.
The pace picked up marginally, as Wale and Ethiopian teammate Selemon Barega controlled the front of the pack through the 2400 mark.
With 600 meters to go, Kerr, the reigning world champion at 1500 meters, and Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, worked his way to the front, stalking Barega, the defending Olympic 10000 meter champion and reigning world indoor 3000 champion.
With one lap to go, Kerr was even with Barega, then sprinted past him with just over 100 meters to go in a move that Barega could not answer.
Nuguse made a late charge to pass Barega, but could not catch Kerr, with Kerr winning at 7:42.98, Nuguse second at 7:43.59. and Barega third at 7:43.64.
“I just didn't want to short change anyone because I knew I had the support of all Scotland and the UK tonight,” added Kerr, who has raced sparingly on the boards but set a brilliant world indoor two mile best of 8:00.67 in New York on February 6th at the Millrose Games.
In the women's pole vault, former Pullman resident Katie Moon wasn't able to add a world indoor title to her Olympic and world outdoor crowns, finishing third with a clearance of 15-7 (4.75m).
Great Britain's Molly Caudery took the victory with a second attempt clearance at 15-9 (4.80m), with New Zealand's Eliza McCartney second at the same height.
Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts missed advancing to the finals in the men's 800, finishing fourth in his heat in 1:48.18, 4/100ths outside third place Andreas Kramer of Sweden. In the 800m semis, the top three advanced to Sunday's finals with no time qualifiers.
Washington alum Kieran Lumb is the only remaining athlete with ties to the state of Washington, as he runs in the finals of the men's 1500 at 1:30 pm Pacific time (9;30 pm in Glasgow).
The final sessions of the world indoor championships will be shown Sunday at 9:30 am Pacific (taped) on NBC, with the final session shown on CNBC starting at 11 am Pacific.
NOTE: World Athletics and the media relations office of Brooks Running contributed to this report.
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