Ingebrigtsen claims Kerr ‘ruining’ athletics by missing Europeans after breaking mile record

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (right) and Josh Kerr, pictured racing at the 2024 Olympics, have traded barbs in the past. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The European 5,000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has criticised Britain’s Josh Kerr for being one of the athletes “ruining” the sport by missing the event in Birmingham.

Ingebrigtsen, who won a brilliant gold medal in his first race after 11 months out of the sport due to an achilles injury, also told the BBC that he “could never” prioritise a time over a title.