Editor’s Note: This is Stuart Weir’s best work in my opinion. Stuart Weir likes to write a 3 part series about major athletes. He’s done it for Amy Hunt, Laura Muir and Molly Caudry, among others. Our senior UK/Europe writer is writing a three-part series on Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr and how they came from Scottish club Edinburgh Athletics Club to winning world championship medals.
Two Boys from Edinburgh AC – Part 1
Notably, the world-wide middle distance was dominated by two guys from one running club, Edinburgh Athletic Club. In the UK, where there is no collegiate track and field scene on the scale of the US, no collegiate athletic scholarships, most athletes begin their journey in the club. Jake Whiteman and: Josh Kerr started their own Edinburgh AC.
Whiteman is 31 years old, Kerr is 28. Wightman is based in the UK, Kerr in the US, but Kerr remembers competing for the club in the same match as a teenager. Agreed World athletics website, they have met 15 times, with Wightman leading 8-7.
In terms of major medals, it’s 6-5 to Whiteman.
Jake Whiteman
World Championship 2022 Gold 1500 m
World Championship 2025 Silver 1500 m
2018 European Championships bronze 1500m
European Championship 2022 Silver 800 m
Commonwealth Games 2018 bronze 1500m (plus 4th 800 m)
Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze 1500m
Josh Kerr
Olympic Games 2021 bronze 1500 m
Olympic Games 2024 Silver 1500 m
World Championship 2023 Gold 1500 m
World Indoors 2024 Gold 3000 m
World Indoors 2026 Gold 3000 m
Both have been unlucky with injuries. Jake Whiteman, who won World Championship 2022 missed the entire 2023 season and suffered another injury during his final training session before the Paris Olympics. Kerr was injured 2025 World Cup.
Their path Edinburgh AC to the pulpit is very different. Kerr received a scholarship University of New Mexico and trained Danny McKee from 2019. Kerr tells a funny story about being interviewed at age 17 and being too young to sign the acceptance papers. Jake Whiteman has always been in the UK and was coached by his father Jeff Whitemanuntil 2025. Jake is now being coached by his future father-in-law, John Hartigan.
It 2022 World Championship gold medal led to a sarcastic video of Jeff as a stadium announcer commenting on his son’s victory.
I’m honored to have been at the track for all but one of Jake’s championship races and most of Josh’s, and to have spoken to both of them on a number of occasions and away from the events.
In parts 2 and 3, I will touch on those conversations more.
Stewart’s interview with Jeff Wightman shortly after Jake’s win at Oregon 2022
Jeff Wightman, Jake’s father and coach, on his son’s World Championship win
