British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr (© Getty Images)
With the track and field season nearing its end, many endurance athletes have started to switch their focus to the roads. Several top-quality road races will take place this weekend, including some over the mile.
World 1500m champion Josh Kerr is set to compete at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile in New York on Sunday (10) – one of the most prestigious road miles in the world. The slight downhill gradient of the course means it isn’t record-eligible, but it does tend to produce speedy times.
Kerr, the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist, is in search of his first victory in what will be his second appearance at the event.
“Winning the World Championships was the culmination of every step of running I’ve ever taken,” Kerr said. “Now, my confidence is higher than it’s ever been, and I have some unfinished business to take care of on 5th Avenue.”
The Briton will face New Zealand’s 5000m record-holder George Beamish, and a US contingent led by 2023 Falmouth Mile champion Johnny Gregorek, 2022 US 1500m champion Cooper Teare, two-time 5th Avenue Mile podium finisher Sam Prakel, and Olympian Woody Kincaid.
In the women’s race, Elle St Pierre will make her return to New York for the first time since finishing as runner-up at the event in 2019. It will also be her first race back since giving birth in March.
“My preparation for the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile this time has been different, as I fit training around feedings, nap time, and playing with Ivan,” St Pierre said. “But my body feels good, and the workouts have been solid. I’m excited to be back on 5thAvenue this weekend.”
She will be joined at the start line by Britain’s 2021 5th Avenue Mile champion Jemma Reekie, British 1500m champion Katie Snowden, USA’s Nikki Hiltz, Mexican record-holder Laura Galvan, Australian record-holder Jessica Hull, Japanese record-holder Nozomi Tanaka, and Jamaican record-holder Adelle Tracey.
Meanwhile, the Brasov Running Festival in Romania is staging a mile race on Saturday (9), where Italy’s Mohad Abdikadar Sheik Ali and Irish 5000m record-holder Brian Fay are set to clash. The field also includes Robin Van Riel of the Netherlands, Italy’s Giovanni Filippi, Germany’s Maximilian Feist and Australia’s Sam Blake. The women’s field, meanwhile, is led by Turkiye’s European indoor 3000m finalist Emine Hatun Mechaal.
