Josh Kerr: Why 1500m world champion will opt out of world indoors for big-year strategy

World 1500m champion Josh Kerr has decided to shut down his indoor season and will not defend his 3,000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China next month. 

The British middle-distance star, who claimed gold in last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, is shifting his focus toward the newly launched Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, starting in April.

Kerr had initially planned to compete in the prestigious Millrose Games earlier this month in an attempt to break the indoor mile world record.

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However, illness forced him to withdraw at the last moment thus  absence paved the way for American Yared Nuguse to set a new world indoor mile record of 3 minutes 46.63 seconds, only for Jakob Ingebrigtsen to lower it further to 3 minutes 45.14 seconds just five days later.

"It's a long year, it was important to make sure we took the time needed after Millrose, you have to have moments to allow the mind and body to reset," Kerr told The Independent.

"Millrose was screaming at me to do that, but we're now in the swing of things."

The 26-year-old has opted out of both the British and World Indoor Championships, prioritizing long-term goals as he builds toward the outdoor World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.

 Kerr, who won his maiden world title in Budapest two years ago, is determined to ensure his schedule allows him to peak at the right time.

"I think the overall decision is that we won't run World Indoors or any race indoors for the rest of the season. I think it's just important—long years, trying to make good decisions to be consistent throughout the year," he explained.

"I've ran indoors for many years and I think there are lots of fun events. I think it's a great event in our sport, it's just not what the schedule is calling for this year."

Kerr, a silver medallist in the 1,500m at the Paris Olympics, has been meticulous in his planning for 2024, ensuring he does not overload himself too early in the season.

 His decision to bypass the indoor circuit highlights the growing emphasis elite athletes place on carefully managing their schedules to maximize performance on the biggest stages.

"You have to work back from your biggest goals and see what that allows to happen," he added.

 "You can't get too greedy at this part of the season when the body is fighting you. So, you have to be smart and it's very difficult to do sometimes as an athlete, so you have to surround yourself with smart people. I don't like to make these decisions on my own and I got a lot of help to make this decision."

Kerr’s next major target is the inaugural meet of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track in Jamaica from April 4–6, an event aiming to revolutionize track and field by offering high-stakes competition in a new format