Great Britain’s Josh Kerr had to settle for silver as USA’s Cole Hocker set a new Olympic record to snatch a surprise gold in a thrilling men’s 1500m final.
It was billed as a showdown between fierce rivals Kerr and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, but Hocker timed his kick to perfection to pip both to the line.
Defending champion Ingebrigtsen finished fourth in the end, with American Yared Nuguse taking bronze.
Kerr led after passing Ingebrigtsen on the sprint finish but fatigued approaching the line as Hocker stormed through on the inside to shock the world in a time of 3:27.65.
The consolation was a new personal best and national record for Kerr, who was pleased with his performance despite missing out on the ultimate prize.
“I’m so proud of myself, I executed today the best 1500 metre race I’ve ever done in my life on the biggest stage by over a second,” Kerr told Eurosport. “It’s difficult to control what anyone else does in these situations but I controlled myself, I positioned myself well to win and go after medals and I did that and it wasn’t enough over the last 20 or 30 metres.
“I got beaten by the better man on the day and I have to walk away from these championships with my head held high.”
The showdown between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr was highly anticipated due to the genuine needle that exists between the pair, with few backing the American contingent to challenge.
Ingebrigtsen had previously dismissed Kerr’s credentials as a genuine rival and it was the Norwegian who set a lightning early pace at the front.
He kicked again at the start of the third lap in a bid to distance his nearest challengers, but Kerr was able to follow him and set up a dramatic final 400m.
Taking the bend onto the final straight, Ingebrigtsen fatigued and faded as Kerr assumed the lead, but it was Hocker and Nuguse who had left enough in the tank to make up ground on the run to the line.
Kerr gritted his teeth but had nothing left to fight Hocker with and only hung onto silver by one-hundredth of a second.
“If you start worrying about the result that can be varied by everyone else’s work,” Kerr added, “then you’re starting to run a fine line of just being disappointed everywhere you go.
“I obviously wanted the Olympic gold medal, I got a silver, that’s better than bronze and we’re moving in the right direction”
Mixed fortunes for GB in men’s 400m semis
Matthew Hudson-Smith booked his spot in the final of the men’s 400m, but his British team-mate Charlie Dobson missed out.
Hudson-Smith was rapid out the blocks and held a huge lead after taking the bend before easing off the gas and crossing the line in 44.07 seconds to qualify for the final.
Dobson finished fourth in his semi-final and missed out on automatic qualification, while his time of 44.48s was not quick enough for one of the two fastest loser places.
USA’s Quincy Hall (43.95s) and Jereem Richards (44.33s) advanced from the first semi-final and they were joined by Grenada’s 2012 champion Kirani James (43.78s) and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (43.81s) from the second semi.
Hudson-Smith won from USA’s Michael Norman in the third semi, with American Christopher Bailey and Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi taking the fastest loser spots to complete the eight-man line-up for Thursday’s final.
