Josh Kerr has become a force to be reckoned in the track and field world after dominant performance in the last two years. The Scottish runner defeated Jakob Ingebrigsten last year in the 1500m Worlds, but ever since that, the two have frequently took jabs at each other. Commenting on the fearsome rivalry is former Olympic Champion Michael Johnson.

While Johnson was the best in 200m and 400m, he was taken a liking in the 1500m rivalry. However, the talking point right now is Josh Kerr’s surprise announcement. The 23-year-old has surprisingly decided to race at the 2024 World Athletic Championship and Johnson impressed.

Josh Kerr impresses Michael Johnson with World’s participation

Citius Mag recently announced that Josh Kerr was taking part in the 3000m race at the 2024 World Athletic Championships next month in Glasgow. He had earlier decided against the move citing Paris Olympics preparations, but will take part in the prestigious competition and 4x Olympic Champion is impressed. Hailing his decision as path-breaking in track and field, Johnson wrote, “Refreshing to see what appears to be more athletes realizing to truly be considered a professional, you must race more on the few big stages available to you.”

Several British athletes had opted out of the World Championships to prepare for the Paris extravaganza, but the 1500m World Champion has preferred to not miss the big stage. He last raced at the Milrose Games 2024 in the 3000m category, and broke the world record as well. But his victory didn’t go down well with Jakob Ingebrigsten, who took a dig at the Champion days later.

Ingebrigsten takes a dig at Kerr and Johnson joins in the chatter

After Josh Kerr broke Mo Farah’s two-mile indoor world record, Jakob Ingebrigsten claimed that he could beat the Scottish runner easily. In fact, blindfolded. “I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded … But it’s good that people run better than they have done before“, he said. Ingebrigsten also revealed that he was happy his rivals were doing better, and Michael Johnson seemed quite impressed with him.

READ MORE: USATF Indoor Championships: American Women Who Ruled With Victorious Records

“Ingebrigsten is becoming one of my favorite track athletes“, he wrote in reply to a clip from Ingebrigsten’s interview. And when Runner World headlined the interview as, “Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Who Lost to Josh Kerr Without a Blindfold, Says He Could Beat Him With a Blindfold“, Johnson was left laughing. Great headline it indeed was but track and field has a few months to wait for the mega clash between the two.

Watch this story: Sha’Carri Richardson Placates the Sparks of Beef With the Jamaican Sprinting Legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce