Josh Kerr Shatters Mile World Record in London
British runner clocks 3:42.66 at Diamond League, eclipsing Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mark.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
Josh Kerr delivered a historic performance at the London Stadium, breaking the mile world record with a time of 3 minutes 42.66 seconds during the Diamond League event.
This monumental achievement fulfilled a season-long ambition for Kerr, who publicly declared his intention to target the mile world record in London back in March, even before the outdoor season commenced.
His meticulously planned campaign, dubbed 'Project 222,' referenced the 222 seconds he aimed for to achieve a 3:42 mile, a goal he now definitively claims.
Kerr stated he recognized the record was within his grasp within the first 400m of the race.
We’re not chasing world records, we’re creating the conditions where world records become inevitable.
He revealed the early mantra for his project: 'We’re not chasing world records, we’re creating the conditions where world records become inevitable.'
Beyond the immediate triumph, this record-breaking feat places Kerr among the pantheon of British middle-distance legends. This lineage includes Sir Roger Bannister, who famously ran the first sub-four-minute mile in Oxford in 1954, clocking 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.
Former British track titans Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram witnessed Kerr's triumph at the former Olympic Stadium.
Kerr trains in Albuquerque, United States, maintaining a rigorous schedule. He has avoided missing a single day of training since his world indoor 3000m championship victory in March.
He stated his physical conditioning makes him capable of such a mark and suggested others could also challenge El Guerrouj's record at the Olympic Stadium.
Kerr acknowledged the immense pressure he created, stating, 'It's very overwhelming with the amount of hype [I created].'
It's silly to call [the attempt] that early because there's a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was able to stay consistent and put the work in.
He added, 'It's silly to call [the attempt] that early because there's a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was able to stay consistent and put the work in.'
The financial reward for his extraordinary effort included a cheque for £38,000, a tangible recognition of his historic performance.
Kerr articulated his broader ambition, claiming, 'If I am to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, following in the footsteps of the legends behind me, I have to put in those performances.'
He continued, 'Those performances take every single part of you, every single part of your team,' highlighting the collective effort behind his individual success.
Kerr highlighted the extensive work occurring away from the public eye, stating, 'The amount of work behind the scenes is incredible.'
He concluded, 'Today, it was a performance I was able to bring out – I just hoped it would be a little bit faster!'
His daily routine includes studying five past races to glean tactical insights, a practice that sharpens his competitive edge.
In a recent training session in Albuquerque, Kerr recorded a hand-timed 1200m split of 2:42.45 at 5,335 feet of elevation with a flying start.
Meanwhile, Yared Nuguse finished second in the record-breaking race, clocking 3:45.69. Other events at the Diamond League saw Keely Hodgkinson win the women's 800m in 1:56.21, while Mondo Duplantis withdrew from the men's pole vault due to an adductor issue.