Paris Olympics: Josh Kerr predicts 'at least one' 1500m medal for Scotland
- Published
Josh Kerr set a new world two-mile indoor record in New York on Sunday
Josh Kerr believes it can be a "special year" for Scottish athletics with "at least one medal" in the 1500m at the Paris Olympics.
Kerr, 26, won World gold last summer, 12 months on from Jake Wightman's success in the same championships.
And 2024 has started very well, with Kerr setting a new world two-mile indoor record in New York on Sunday.
"We've had great history in this event in the UK," said Kerr, who has an Olympic bronze from 2021.
"It will be tough to even make the team but I'm pretty confident in myself that we'll have at least one medal in the 1500m and it would be pretty cool to get two. It can be a special year for us."
Neil Gourley is the reigning British 1500m champion and will be in competition with his fellow Scots for places in Paris.
Kerr is third in the current world rankings, with Gourley eighth as Wightman makes his way back from injury.
Having stunned Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in Budapest in August, Kerr will no longer be under the radar.
"Of course it comes with external pressure but I love that," he told BBC Scotland's The Nine.
"I try to block out the noise of other peoples' expectations, so I can focus on the job in hand. I hold myself to a very high level in what I do."
New York run 'brings some eyeballs'
Kerr's new indoor record has also raised his profile since he beat the mark set by Mo Farah.
"The weight that comes with a name like that, it definitely brings some eyeballs," added Kerr on his New York triumph.
"It's a really nice feeling, a great start to a busy year.
"The first step is being fit and working under pressure which we were able to do this weekend, then it's about building on that. Momentum is huge in our sport."
So, will we see Kerr running on home soil when the World Indoor Championships come to Glasgow from 1-3 March?
The US-based athlete will not make selection meetings this weekend.
"I would love to be in Glasgow," he said. "We're having discussions with British Athletics to see if it's a possibility and we should know in a couple of days. Right now it's about staying fit and healthy."