Great Britain's Josh Kerr expressed his happiness at seeing Norwegian runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen return to competition, but he emphasized he is determined not to lose when they face off again this weekend at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. The event marks the resumption of their rivalry, which has been on hold for nearly two years. Ingebrigtsen recently criticized Kerr for not competing at the European Championships last month, where the Norwegian won gold in the 5,000 meters after a long recovery from injury. The men's 1500-meter race at the Ultimate Championship is expected to be highly charged. Ingebrigtsen, 25, called his rivals a "bunch of cowards" during last week's Diamond League Final, a remark that has added tension to their upcoming clash. Kerr, 28, did not directly respond to Ingebrigtsen's comments but acknowledged that having such strong competitors would bring "a lot more energy" to the event. He praised Ingebrigtsen's return, calling it "great for our distance," and said he is "excited to go out there and race." Kerr also suggested that Ingebrigtsen might face challenges in the 1500m or 5,000m at the championship, given his recent return from a long-term injury. Their last head-to-head race was in September 2024 at the Zurich Diamond League, where Ingebrigtsen finished second and Kerr fifth. Ingebrigtsen won Olympic gold five years ago, while Kerr claimed the world title in 2023. American Cole Hocker took victory in Paris during that period. Kerr had planned to skip the European Championships, focusing instead on breaking the 27-year-old mile world record in London and winning Commonwealth gold in Glasgow this summer. His strategy involves selecting three or four major events each season to avoid injuries and maintain consistent performance. He said the next three years will be critical for his career and emphasized the importance of a sustainable athletic journey. Kerr's 2023 world title defense was cut short by a calf injury 12 months ago. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be held at the same stadium where Kerr beat Ingebrigtsen to win the 1500m world title three years ago. Both runners received special invitations to the event, as neither qualified through the usual selection process. Kerr believes that having top athletes, even if they are not at their peak, can create the most exciting races. The rest of the 1500m field is eager to compete against both Kerr and Ingebrigtsen. Ingebrigtsen later offered a partial apology for his harsh comments, acknowledging they may have been overly emotional, but he reaffirmed his commitment to speaking his mind.