The Prague Post - Kerr targets world mile record, Hodgkinson happy to 'run free'

But Keely Hodgkinson said thoughts of going after Jarmila Kratochvilova's 800m record dating back to 1983 was not the overiding factor going into Saturday's Diamond League meet in London.

Kerr has built his season around going after Hicham El Guerrouj's best of 3min 43.13sec, which the Moroccan set in Rome in 1999.

"My body is capable of the mark," Kerr said Friday.

British record holder Kerr, the Olympic 1,500m silver medallist, has a personal best of 3:45.34, sixth on the all-time list.

"It was a dream for a long time, but I knew it could be reality for a long time," remarked Kerr, who defended his world indoor 3,000m title in Poland in March.

"It's about convincing yourself, but that didn't take too long," he said, adding it had been more about establishing a supportive team around him to allow him to go after the record "as fiercely as I wanted to".

Kerr, who will be paced by his training partner Brannon Kidder, added: "Every race has a moment where you can see an athlete go from 'This is really hard' to 'I'm going to get this', and those are the moments I'm looking for.

"What's going to transpire tomorrow is my moment.

"I've had belief in myself for a long time. It's not something that is difficult for me."

While a record attempt is on the cards, Kerr acknowledged that there is also a race, with Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse, the North American record holder and fourth in the all-time mile list, in the field.

"In the 1,500m we have so many great athletes," the 28-year-old US-based Scot said.

"The clock is not something I've chased. I just have to turn up and be consistent, like in training.

"It's an open race. I know what my focused plan is."

- Biggest moment -

Before El Guerrouj installed himself as world record holder, British milers were an institution on the track.

Roger Bannister was the first man to run a sub-4min mile in 1954.

Then came middle-distance legends Steve Ovett, Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram, who dominated the event from 1979-93.

Kerr argued that having his name mentioned with that trio "would be the biggest moment of my career".

The build-up to Saturday's meet had been dominated by talk of two potential world record attempts, with Kerr joined by Hodgkinson.

But the 24-year-old Olympic 800m champion has had a frustrating season and played down expectations of a tilt at Kratochvilova's record time of 1:53.28.

Despite improving her own British record to 1:54.33 in Stockholm in June, she is yet to win a Diamond League race this season. She was beaten in Sweden by Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who ran the third fastest 800m in history to win the race.

Hodgkinson broke the 24-year-old world indoor record in Lievin in February before claiming a first world indoor title in March.

Two weeks later, Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the British championships, complaining of "a little twinge" moments before the race.

After Werro improved her best time to 1:53.80 in Paris, Hodgkinson went to Eugene, but came in second to world champion Lilian Odira having sustained injuries to both knees in a heavy training fall.

"I'm really good, much better than in Prefontaine," Hodgkinson said of the Eugene meet.

"I'm really excited to be here. I've only run here once before.

"My approach tomorrow is to run free. I'm not putting any pressure on myself to chase times.

"I'm not putting an expectation on myself."

M.Soucek--TPP