Britain's Josh Kerr beats Jakob Ingebrigtsen AGAIN to lay down Olympic marker and says he's 'better than ever' as Scot smashes Steve Cram's 39-year-old mile record

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Josh Kerr says he is in the form of his life after he smashed Steve Cram's 39-year-old British mile record – and arch-rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen – in a statement win on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old Scot secured his maiden Diamond League victory in the prestigious Bowerman Mile at the Prefrontaine Classic in Eugene, clocking a time of 3min 45.34sec - almost a second quicker than the 3:46.32 set by Cram in Oslo in 1985.

With just two months to go until the Paris Olympics, Kerr's win was especially significant as he beat Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Ingebrigtsen, just like he did to win the world 1500m title in Budapest last summer.

Kerr said: 'I believe I'm better than I've ever been. I'm going to take it race by race, but there are some great signs for the future. It's a great position to be in right now.

'These guys I'm racing against are going to get better and better each month, and I need to do the same to try and stay ahead.

Britain's Josh Kerr beats Norwegian rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the Prefontaine Classic 

The win in Oregon allowed Kerr to lay down a useful marker ahead of the Paris Olympics

'I want to get that Olympic title. That's the last one to check off my childhood dreams.'

Kerr's stunning performance was praised on BBC commentary by the man whose British record he took down.

'I'm so pleased. 39 years – and about time,' said Cram, the former world 1500m champion and Olympic silver medallist. 'This is the coming man, Josh Kerr.

'I am so looking forward to this season. Ingebrigtsen is back but Josh Kerr is getting better and better and better. You know this is a man full of confidence heading to the Olympic Games.'

While Kerr only passed Ingebrigtsen after the final bend to win in Budapest, he led their race in Eugene from the penultimate lap and then held on for victory by 0.26sec.

Ingebrigtsen, though, remains confident he can defend his Olympic title and also win the 5,000m gold after making an encouraging return from an Achilles injury.

'It's a very good start,' said the Norwegian after his first race since September. 'I know that every day from here I'm going to be better.

'I think I'm going to win both in Paris. If that is to happen, I really need to have a flawless next two months, which I believe that I'm able to do.'

There was more success for Britain as Keely Hodgkinson won the women's 800metres 

Keely Hodgkinson was the other British winner in Eugene, storming to victory in the 800m ahead of world champion Mary Moraa with a blistering time of 1:55.78, the third quickest of her career.

At Paris 2024, the 22-year-old will be looking to upgrade the silver medals she won at the Tokyo Olympics and the last two World Championships.

'I think that final in Paris is going to be insane,' said Hodgkinson. 'I just hope to be a part of it and really challenge for the top place.'

Elsewhere, British sprinter Louie Hinchliffe, 21, ran the fastest all-conditions 100m in the world this year when he clocked an eye-catching 9.84sec in a university race in America.

Hinchliffe’s time was slightly over the legal wind limit but is still the second fastest ever by a British athlete in all conditions, and puts him in the frame for Olympic section.