Josh Kerr relaxed after Ingebrigtsen’s criticism as wall of noise greets athletics

There was a whiff of London 2012 as the track action at the Stade de France got under way to huge crowds, a wall of noise, and early British promise. It came from the 2023 world 1500m champion Josh Kerr , who breezed into the semi-finals wearing a pair of gold-emblazoned spikes, and then declared: “I’m definitely better than last year – and we’ll see that.”

Kerr’s fighting talk came after the Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen had taken a dig at him off the track. Asked about his great rivalry with Kerr, he replied: “It’s hard to refer to him as a rival when he’s never there. He is known as the Briton who never competes. I try to participate in as many races as I can and to entertain.”

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Kerr’s relaxed response after winning his heat in 3min 35.83sec “Everyone can have their own opinions. I’ve no problems with that and I will hopefully be remembered for something slightly different.”

Around 69,000 people watched the early skirmishes, which made for a welcome contrast to the 2016 Rio Olympics, which barely had a couple of thousand spectators in the 60,000-capacity venue on the opening day. And, of course, the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, which were staged completely without crowds.

There were also huge cries of “allez bleu” before every appearance by a French athlete, while an in-house DJ kept the atmosphere going, much to the joy of the crowd.

They watched as all the pre-race favourites for the women’s 100m, including the American Sha’Carri Richardson, who ran 10.96 sec, breezed into the semi-finals.

Britain’s Daryll Neita looked particularly good in qualifying in joint-second fastest in 10.92sec, behind Marie-Josée Ta Lou, who ran 10.87. But Dina Asher-Smith (11.01) and Imani-Lara Lansiquot (11.10) also pronounced themselves satisfied after making it through.

“It’s a beautiful purple track,” said Asher-Smith. “We’ve all been in stadiums when it’s electric and that’s ultimately what you want as a competitor.”

This is the first time an Olympic track has been the colour purple: the idea being it provides a better television experience, as it contrasts more with athletes. Mondo, which has made every Olympic track since 1976, also believes that this is its fastest ever. It says its “key innovation lies in the new geometry of the sub-base, which now uses elliptical geometric air cells” which makes it more responsive for athletes.

The Italian company also says it has developed a new blend for this track that incorporates “bivalve mollusc shells, such as mussels and clams,” in its resilient flooring. And according to Kerr, there is nothing fishy about such claims.

“The track was definitely quick,” he said. “Everyone gets really angsty in these first rounds because of all the build-up, the hype and it’s a big stadium with lots of people, so I just made sure I stayed relaxed and when it was time to go, I put the burners on.”

One athlete to miss out on the experience was the Nigerian Favour Ofili, whose personal best of 10.93sec would have probably qualified her for the final, after her federation did not enter her for the 100m. “I have worked 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what?” she said on social media. World Athletics later confirmed that she has only been entered for the 200m and 4x100m.