HEART BREAKERR

Fierce rivals Josh and Ingebrigtsen cut each other's throats and leave unheralded American Hocker to steal gold

- ANDY DUNN

BEHIND the wraparound shades, Josh Kerr’s eyes must have been blazing with anticipation.

About 60 metres from the finishing line, he had moved on to the shoulder of the man who – with Kerr – is one half of the bitterest rivalries in athletics. And Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the young but great Norwegian, looked spent, treading water, arms flailing.

Kerr had him. Most thought the 26-yearold from Edinburgh might have to wait until the dying strides before he could topple the Olympic champion.

Many thought Ingebrigtsen would have too much for the Brit.

But Kerr made good on his pre-race promise to put the confident Ingebrigtsen in his place - the trouble was that this was not, despite the nature of the build-up, a boxing contest. This was not headto-head, this was not mano o mano.

And after Kerr had landed the KO blow on his gladiatorial adversary, Cole Hocker floored the Scot with as brutal a sucker punch as you can see in a 1500m contest.