Kerr shatters 27-year mile record at London Diamond League
The 28-year-old Edinburgh native finishes more than three seconds ahead of Yared Nuguse in a historic performance at the London Stadium.
British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr has broken the men’s mile world record at a Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday. The 28-year-old completed the distance in 3 minutes 42.66 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 3 minutes 43.13 seconds set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. This victory marks the first time the men’s mile world record has been broken since the turn of the millennium.
Kerr finished more than three seconds ahead of American Yared Nuguse, who recorded a time of 3 minutes 45.69 seconds to take second place. Speaking to the BBC after the race, Kerr described the atmosphere at the London Stadium as “incredible,” noting that the crowd support was palpable as he approached the finish line. He recalled the final 110 metres as “deafening,” stating, “It was just me, my shoes and the track.”
The win follows a period of high-profile rivalry between Kerr and Norwegian runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The two athletes engaged in online disputes and contrasting performances at the Paris Olympics and World Championships. At the Paris Games, Kerr finished second in the 1,500m while Ingebrigtsen finished fourth. Ingebrigtsen had previously suggested Kerr relied on pacesetters for top times, a tactic not permitted at major championships. At the previous year’s World Championships, Kerr withdrew from the final due to injury, while Ingebrigtsen faltered in the preliminary heats.
With no World Championships or Olympics on the schedule this year, Kerr identified the mile as his primary competitive target. The distance holds significant historical weight in athletics, notably associated with Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute barrier in 1954. Kerr, the 2023 World Champion in the 1,500m, had previously held a personal best of 3:45.34, set in 2024.
Kerr celebrated his achievement with a lap of honour at the London Stadium. He noted that while his goal was simply to break 42 seconds, the feeling of the race shifted as he realised he was on track for a record. “I didn't take my foot off the gas, but ... I started to glide and I was like 'oh wow this feels incredible,'” he said. “So, crossing the finish line, seeing 42-something — anything — was my goal, so it was great.”
