Josh Kerr Sets New Men’s Mile World Record at London Diamond League

British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr clocked 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to establish a new men’s mile world record at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.

After openly declaring his ambitions beforehand, Josh Kerr left himself with no alternative but to deliver. Having confidently predicted his performance, he backed it up in remarkable fashion on Saturday.

Kerr eclipsed Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj’s long-standing world record of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, which had stood since being set in Rome in 1999. Following his historic run, the Edinburgh-born athlete celebrated with a victory lap around London Stadium.

The 28-year-old produced a commanding performance, crossing the finish line more than three seconds ahead of American Yared Nuguse, who finished second in 3:45.69.

Speaking to the BBC, Kerr described the crowd’s encouragement as he approached the record as “just incredible.”

“It was just me, my shoes and the track,” he said. “I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters.

“I didn’t take my foot off the gas,” he continued, “but … I started to glide and I was like ‘Oh wow, this feels incredible.’ It’s incredible because I’m slowing down. So, I was like ‘I better get to the line.’ So, crossing the finish line, seeing 42-something — anything — was my goal, so it was great.”

Before Saturday’s record-breaking performance, Kerr’s personal best stood at 3:45.34, which he recorded in 2024.

The mile at the London Diamond League had been one of Kerr’s primary targets during a season that does not feature either the Olympic Games or the World Championships.

Although the mile is not contested as a championship event, it remains one of athletics’ most prestigious distances. The event achieved legendary status after another British runner, Roger Bannister, became the first athlete to break the four-minute mile barrier in 1954.

Kerr claimed the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics.