Injury denied Kerr podium spot with me - Wightman

Jake Wightman is adamant childhood pal Josh Kerr would have been alongside him on the podium had injury not ruined his attempts to retain his 1500m title at the World Athletics Championships.

Wightman - the 2022 champion - collected his slab of silver on Thursday after being pipped on the line by Portugal's Isaac Nader in a dramatic final in Toyko.

Olympic silver medallist Kerr had been expected to be among those scrapping for medals but pulled up on the penultimate lap, leaving Japan with a calf injury and regrets instead of with a ribbon around his neck.

"Probably the saddest bit for me was I didn't realise that was happening," Wightman told BBC Scotland.

"I didn't actually get to speak to him afterwards but I sent him a message last night checking he was okay, and he sent a nice message back.

"It is not nice seeing a friend in that situation and not being able to showcase what he could do. I know how grim that feels but he is a world-class athlete and that doesn't disappear, he is going to come back and be as good as ever."

Kerr ultimately hobbled over the line in last place, injury having ruined his hopes and left him adrift of the field.

The 27-year-old - who won the title in Budapest two years ago - hung back in the opening couple of laps before pulling up with a hop and skip on the third circuit.

That he gritted his teeth and dragged himself to the finish at all was some feat. And that he did so in four minutes 11.23 seconds is a mark of his resilience.

"If Josh hadn't had that you know he is going to be at the front of that race doing everything he can to win it," Wightman added of his fellow Scot.

"We could have had two of us on that podium, which I'm sure would have been a very would have been a very likely outcome if he'd have been in one piece.

"We were speaking about it in the warm area that he's had literally a relentless schedule since Covid, with global championships every year.

"I don't know if it's consequence of that or just the weather was very hot last night, but it's just a shame we didn't have him competing at the front of that race, because that made it extra special."