NEWLY CROWNED athletics world champion Josh Kerr has celebrated winning gold with his Haddington mum and dad in Hungary.

The athlete ran the race of his life to stun Norway’s Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and win the 1,500m last Wednesday night.

Among the first to congratulate Josh, who finished behind Ingebrigtsen to win bronze at the Olympics in Tokyo, were his mum and dad, Jill and John.

The new champion, who followed in the footsteps of fellow Scotsman Jake Wightman to win the title, said: “I felt him break and I just needed to stay strong.

“I was looking up at the screen making sure no one was coming on my outside but, with 50m to go, I knew I had it.

East Lothian Courier: Great Britain's Josh Kerr (centre) celebrates winning the Men's 1500m final. Image: Martin Rickett/PAGreat Britain's Josh Kerr (centre) celebrates winning the Men's 1500m final. Image: Martin Rickett/PA

“I felt there was a slight weakness with 200m to go; I had to be in lane two for a minute but I’m going to fight all the way, regardless of whether I broke him or not.

“I’ve been in four major championship finals and come away with only a bronze. When you’re the underdog you have to come and take what’s yours – you’re not handed anything. It was about going there and taking what’s mine.”

Josh’s mum Jill is daughter of Jackie Campbell, who played for Haddington RFC, while John also represented the Neilson Park side in the early 1990s, before playing for Watsonians.

The family connection to Haddington does not end there, though, as Josh’s uncle – John’s brother – Alan came up through the minis and colts to play for Haddington RFC in the 1990s.

Josh’s brother, Jake, was capped for his country on the rugby pitch during the opening game of the 2019 Six Nations when Scotland won 33-20 against Italy.