THE gentile urbanity of Old Edinburgh is 5000 miles and a world removed from the cactus-filled altitude of Albuquerque. Josh Kerr ventured from one to the other in search of radical shifts and an education at the University of New Mexico and discovered contrasts galore.

“It’s the first country I’ve been in where there’s a lot of people sitting down while they shop on those mobile shopping trolleys,” the 19-year-old laughs. “That was nuts and one of the first times I went to Wal-Mart. It’s still very odd. But I’ve been on one. We have one big grocery store beside where we end our runs and after a long one, it’s pretty tempting.”

In the second year of his athletic scholarship, the Scottish prospect has plotted a month-long return to this side of the Atlantic in the quest to enhance his burgeoning reputation. European junior champion over 1500 metres 18 months ago, he will pursue another continental gold this afternoon in Sardinia where he is among a 36-strong British team for the European cross-country championships.

These are valuable points on the learning curve. Especially after coming up short of the podium at last summer’s world junior championships where merely reaching the final dipped below his personal goals.

“That was a tough one for me to take,” he says. “I was in the best shape of my life for sure and the thing that hurt the most was I had the opportunity to do well and I didn’t.”

Redemption, in part, arose in the Olympic trials where he came fourth behind Edinburgh AC club-mates Chris O’Hare and Jake Wightman plus eventual Rio finalist Charlie Grice. With an extra year’s wisdom, that gap might close, he asserts, with the cut and thrust of the American collegiate circuit – where the challenge is to win Conference, then Regional, then National titles – set to sharpen his track skills.

The 2017 world championships in London might not be out of bounds.

“I have thought about it a bit,” Kerr admits. “I want to run a lot faster than I do now. First I want to get the time for Commonwealth Games, and although I should be able to get that, it’s something I can’t overlook. Then I want to get in faster races and get down to racing again.”

In Chia today, he can observe fellow Scots Andy Butchart and Callum Hawkins in the senior race once his own is complete. Ideal role models both, as is Steph Twell who will make her 11th appearance at a championships where she was thrice a junior victor and came close to a maiden senior podium 12 months ago.

Kerr will hope for individual triumph but can be confident of landing a team medal amid a talented British crop. “We’ve got a strong team,” He says: “I think we’ll definitely be in contention.”