Get ready for some world-class athletics featuring Team Scotland athletes this weekend (11-13 September) with the new World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, the New Balance 5^th Avenue Mile in New York City, and the AJ Bell Great North Run closer to home in Newcastle upon Tyne. 

Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman – two of Scotland’s best – will join 20 other athletes in Budapest representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the season-ending event, both looking to top the podium in a hotly contested 1500m. 

Kerr is heading there in the form of his life after breaking the mile world record in July then following up with gold for Team Scotland over the same distance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. 

Kerr’s message to his competitors and followers on social media was a clear but simple one: “Tell them that I’m coming.” 

The 13-athlete final includes in-form Cameron Myers of Australia who won the Brussels Diamond League 1500 last weekend, Olympic gold medallist Cole Hocker from the US and European gold medallist in the 5,000m Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway.  

The last time Kerr raced in Budapest was at the 2023 World Championships when he clinched gold, running Ingebrigtsen into silver. The pair haven’t raced against each other for two years, so fans around the world are eagerly awaiting their showdown on the track. 

The rest of the field will be hoping to disrupt their rivalry, none less than Wightman – the 2022 world champion and 2025 world silver medallist. 

Speaking to World Athletics, Kerr said: “I’m excited to race the 1500m at the Ultimate Championship. I’ve made some choices this season that have created plenty of noise, but I’ve always wanted to prove myself in the biggest races, against the best in the world. Budapest gives me another opportunity to do that, and I’m coming to compete for the win.” 

Jemma Reekie is looking to claim her third victory at the New Balance 5^th Avenue Mile in New York City following her wins in 2023 and 2021. Sarah Calvert, who finished 7^th in the mile at Glasgow 2026 will be lining up alongside Reekie for her first appearance in NYC. 

Reekie, who set a European road mile record last weekend said: “As a two-time champion on 5th Avenue, I know what it takes to come out on top in this field of incredible runners. I’m thrilled to have another opportunity to race through the streets of New York and add a third win to my resumé.” 

Double-gold medallist at Glasgow 2026 Melanie Woods is heading south of the border on Sunday to take on 13.1 miles at the Great North Run. Woods – who set a Games record in the T54 1500m and added gold in the T54 400m – will be joined by Sean Frame (4^th in the T54 1500m), both looking to retain their event titles from 2025. 

Andy Butchart, who raced the 5,000m and 10,000m for Team Scotland in Glasgow is the only Scot in the elite men’s field. Elish McColgan who is returning from an injury that kept her out of the Commonwealth Games will also be toing the start line after an impressive comeback win at the London Big Half last weekend. 

You can watch the Great North Run and the Ultimate Championships live on the BBC.  
 
Relive Josh’s golden moment for Team Scotland