Josh Kerr is bracing for a “real battle” to defend his world 1500 metres title after qualifying second from his semi-final behind 20-year-old Dutch upstart Niels Laros.
The Scot led for almost the entirety of the first heat in Tokyo but was beaten after a physical finish, which ended with Laros crossing three hundredths of a second quicker in three minutes 35.50 seconds.
