Kerr, Ingebrigtsen set for 1500m duel at Ultimate Championship

Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen will meet in the men’s 1500m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest from September 11-13. Their entry brings the world mile record-holder and the Olympic 1500m champion into the same race, alongside several of the event’s leading middle-distance runners.

Kerr, Britain’s 2023 world champion, secured his place through an exceptional invitation after producing a mile world record of 3:42.66 in London in July. Ingebrigtsen had already qualified automatically for the 5000m as the reigning Olympic champion in that event, and will now compete in both disciplines in Budapest.

The 1500m line-up also includes Cole Hocker, the 2024 Olympic champion, and Isaac Nader, the 2025 world champion. Their presence means the race will feature the reigning Olympic and world champions, as well as the current world-record holder, in one final.

The rivalry between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen has developed through repeated encounters on the track and public exchanges away from competition. Their latest meeting will be part of an inaugural championship intended to bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the leading athletes in the rankings.

The exceptional invitations for Kerr and Ingebrigtsen required the 1500m field to increase from 11 athletes to 13. Prize money has been adjusted with the additional places, including a $5,000 award for the athlete finishing 13th. The decision is unusual because exceptional invitations are otherwise limited to one athlete per discipline at this first edition.

Gianmarco Tamberi has also received an exceptional invitation, for the men’s high jump. The Italian is a world and Olympic champion and recently won his fourth European title by clearing 2.32 metres in Birmingham. Hungary, as host nation, will receive invitations for four individual athletes and two relay teams, with each added individual athlete guaranteed $1,000.