Great Britain’s Josh Kerr shattered the world mile record on home soil in the London Diamond League on Saturday (18) afternoon with a phenomenal 3:42.66 clocking.
Hicham El Guerrouj’s record of 3:43.13 had stood on the books since 1999 but Kerr slashed almost half-a-second from that long-standing mark with a fearless piece of running.
Kerr took up the pace with 600 metres remaining with Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse from the United States still clinging on to the Brit who had announced his intentions to attack this revered record as early as March.
Through 1200m with the clock stopping at 2:46.39, the world record remained a distinct possibility for Kerr. The world record turned into a probability after passing through 1500m in 3:27.51, a British record and almost one second faster than El Guerrouj’s corresponding split of 3:28.21 in Rome in 1999.
Kerr didn’t show any signs of fatigue in the last 100 metres, keeping his form brilliantly to cross the finish-line in 3:42.66 to become the first man in history to break the 3:43-barrier for the mile.
Among those in the London Stadium to witness Kerr’s heroics were Steve Cram, who was commentating on Kerr’s record-breaking exploits for British television, and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, both of whom held the world mile record in the 1980s.
"I am surrounded by amazing people, so I have continued to put the work in, so I knew I had a 3:42 in me. I nearly lost it there at the end but I got over the line.
"If I am to leave my mark on the sport, as a British athlete with the legends I have behind me, to follow in those footsteps, I have to deliver those performances," said Kerr whose next target is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which begins on 27 July.
World all-time mile list
3:42.66 - Josh Kerr (GBR) - 2026
3:43.13 – Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) – 1999
3:43.40 – Noah Ngeny (KEN) – 1999
3:43.73 – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) – 2023
3:43.97 – Yared Nuguse (USA) – 2023
3:44.39 – Noureddine Morceli (ALG) – 1993
3:45.94 – Niels Laros (NED) – 2025
3:45.94 – Cole Hocker (USA) – 2026
3:46.06 – Cameron Myers (AUS) – 2026
3:46.32 – Steve Cram (GBR) – 1985
World mile record progression
3:42.66 - Josh Kerr (GBR) - 2026
3:43.13 - Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) - 1999
3:44.39 - Noureddine Morceli (ALG) - 1993
3:46.32 - Steve Cram (GBR) - 1985
3:47.33 - Sebastian Coe (GBR) - 1981
3:48.40 - Steve Ovett (GBR) - 1981
3:48.53 - Sebastian Coe (GBR) - 1981
3:48.8 - Steve Ovett (GBR) - 1980
3:49.0 - Sebastian Coe (GBR) - 1979