In less than 24 hours, the Bowerman Mile will kick off at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with one of the strongest men’s mile fields. This star-studded track and field lineup includes two Olympic champions and three 1500m world champions, with an impressive average personal best of 3:48.57. The race has been one of the most talked-about events this year because of the imminent clash between Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and 2023 World Champion Josh Kerr.

Their rivalry began after Kerr’s victory over Ingebrigtsen at last year’s World Championships in Budapest. Since then, the two have engaged in a heated war of words, with fans eagerly anticipating their clash on the track. Amid the drama, a U.S. record holder has emerged as a key contender, positioned as the ‘lesser evil’ in this epic showdown.

U.S. record holder set to give the World and Olympic champions massive contention at the Prefontaine Classic

Ahead of the Bowerman Mile, LetsRun.com shared an interview with Yared Nuguse, one of the 15 contenders set for the 2024 Prefontaine Classic. In the interview, a standout moment came when the North American indoor record holder for the 1500 meters was asked about the upcoming clash between Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen. After expressing his interest and excitement about the showdown, the interviewer posed an intriguing question: What if Nuguse beat them? Would that end their rivalry? Laughing, Nuguse replied, “It will be hilarious I will say. I can’t imagine what they’d be thinking in that case, but I think I like to think that for either of them, me winning is the lesser evil. Maybe I don’t know; I’ll find out.”

Over the past year, Nuguse has set national and North American records at various distances, showing his talent. Last September, he shattered Alan Webb’s 16-year-old U.S. outdoor record by running 3:43.97 at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, just behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 3:43.73. As we consider Nuguse’s words, let’s see what Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen have to say about their highly anticipated track and field clash.

Track and Field phenoms Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s thoughts about their showdown

At a news conference before the Bowerman Mile at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen were asked about their relationship. Ingebrigtsen, noting the hype and attention of their clash, shared, “If we take a step back and look at it, it’s good for the sport.” He added that, while the exposure and interest it brings are positive for track and field, he doesn’t think this race should be put on a pedestal. Despite recovering from an Achilles injury, Ingebrigtsen mentioned his plan to show up and try to do his best. The Olympic Champion said, “We take part in the sport to do what we all love, which is to run, compete against each other and I think we’re all just glad to be here.”

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Kerr, on the other hand, was unapologetically straightforward. He said they are fierce competitors who both want to be the best in the world, and that’s not going to change. The 2023 World Champion said, “I can’t really care how this race affects anyone else; it’s going to affect my season and my career, and that’s the selfish way I look at my racing because it’s an individual sport.” As we await this epic clash, who are you rooting for among the 15 contenders? Share your thoughts in the comments below!