WORLD record holder Josh Kerr has set his sights on a Commonwealth Games gold medal at the Glasgow track where he began competing as a youth.
The 28-year-old athlete, who kept a childhood t-shirt reading “Scottish Commonwealth Games hopeful”, will race in the Commonwealth Mile at Scotstoun Stadium in 2026.
This comes just after the Scottish Olympic silver medallist and 2023 World Champion ran a 3:42.66 mile, breaking the world record in front of a sell-out London crowd at the Diamond League running meet at the London Stadium yesterday.
Kerr, who hails from Edinburgh and attended George Watson’s College, will lead a Scottish contingent including Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley when the athletics events run from July 27 to August 1.
The return to Scotstoun marks an anniversary for Kerr, who recorded a time of 4:30.91 on the same track in July 2011.
Kerr competed across multiple disciplines as a 13-year-old at the stadium, participating in the shot put and high jump alongside his track events.
“I grew up in youth academies for Commonwealth Games future hopefuls and that will never leave me,” Kerr said. “I still have the T-shirt that says: Scottish Commonwealth Games hopeful!”
He added: “To be able to go out there and represent my country, in my country, in front of a home crowd, in the Commonwealth Games, you know, that’s all I want for my career.”
Reflecting on his upcoming race against fellow top athletes, Kerr noted a shift in his focus from chasing fast times to pure competition.
“We ran the fast time and now it’s time to race the best guys in the Commonwealth. I’m not too worried about times right now,” he stated.
“It’s going to be very nostalgic to be back and to have family in the crowd as well,” Kerr said of returning to Scotstoun. “I learned how to race over there.”
The 2026 Games will involve 3,000 athletes from 74 nations competing across Glasgow, with the mile finals scheduled for Saturday, August 1.
Kerr acknowledged the unique environment of a home competition and the support of the local crowd.
“I think there’s a pressure that comes with it as well and using that to our advantage and realising that the people in that stadium want us to do well,” he said.
The athlete is seeking redemption after feeling he fell short at the previous Games in Birmingham.
“The 2022 Commonwealth Games, I didn’t do myself justice and so, and now it’s time to again have pride in the shirt and go out and represent Scotland as well as I can,” Kerr added.
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