Josh Kerr sets new men's mile world record at London Diamond League
British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr ran 3:42.66 to break Hicham El Guerrouj's 1999 mile record at a Diamond League meet in London.
British athlete Josh Kerr lowered the men's mile world record to 3 minutes 42.66 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday, surpassing Hicham El Guerrouj's 1999 mark of 3:43.13 set in Rome. The 28-year-old, who hails from Edinburgh, completed the race more than three seconds ahead of American Yared Nuguse, who finished in 3:45.69.
"It was just me, my shoes and the track," Kerr said after the race. "I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters."
Kerr, who previously recorded a personal best of 3:45.34 earlier in 2024, noted the crowd's encouragement as he approached the record, describing the experience as "incredible" and saying he kept his pace until the finish line.
The achievement comes as Kerr focuses on the mile this season, a distance with historic significance but limited presence in major championships, while the athletics calendar lacks world or Olympic events this year.