American sprint icons Michael Johnson & Noah Lyles can’t wait for Josh Kerr, Jakob Ingebrigtsen faceoff

American sprint king Noah Lyles is among those who cannot wait for the much-anticipated meeting between serial track rivals Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have traded barbs at each other over the last few weeks, escalating their rivalry, and they are set to compete against each other at the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic, the fourth leg of the Diamond League Meeting series in Eugene, USA on May 25.

The race has been billed as one for the ages with American sprint legend Michael Johnson among those who cannot wait and Lyles has also expressed his excitement at the impending meeting.

“Yah I’m very excited to see this race! Idc [I don’t care] if it’s fast I just want to see who will win,” Lyles posted online.

Lyles’ sentiments come hours after Johnson, who is a fan of the digs Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have been aiming at each other, also said he was looking forward to the race.

“Can’t wait to see this one,” said Johnson.

Kerr and Ingebrigtsen have had a go at each other with the former being on the receiving end of some ‘hard tackles’ from the latter.

Ingebrigtsen has been trash-talking his rivals, especially Kerr, whom he said he could defeat while blindfolded, and also called him the guy next door.

After Kerr broke the two-mile indoor world record, world 1500m silver medallist Ingebrigtsen made fun of his achievement.

“I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded… But it’s good that people run better than they have done before,” Ingebrigtsen said last month.

The rivalry went a notch higher last year when Kerr stunned Ingebrigtsen to win gold in 1,500m at the World Championships with the Norwegian forced to settle for silver, having come in as the favourite.

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