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JOSH KERR has no doubt he can beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen in Budapest, but the Scot is now leaving the off-track sparring to his Norwegian rival. Both men have returned to familiar territory at the Gyula Zsivotzky National Athletics Centre, where the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship begins Friday night. In 2023, the former pipped the latter to the world 1500m title at the same venue. Three years is a long time in athletics. Kerr broke the world mile record in July, one month before Ingebrigtsen returned from an 11-month layoff to win 5000m European gold in Birmingham, where he took a swipe at Kerr and other absentees, accusing them of “ruining the sport.” Kerr turned down a chance to respond, but, speaking before the Ultimate Championships, said: “Look, when you boil it down, I’m very happy that he is back running and racing. I think it’s great for our distance. He’s one of the best 1500m runners, 5000m runners of all time, and I am excited to go out and race him. “I’m not going to lose, but I’m excited to go out there and race.”