LONDON – In a stunning display of athleticism, British runner Josh Kerr shattered the longstanding men’s mile world record at a Diamond League meet held in London on Saturday. Kerr completed the mile in an astonishing time of 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds set by Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.
Following his record-setting performance, the Edinburgh native celebrated with a lap of honor at the prestigious London Stadium, basking in the glory of his monumental achievement.
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Kerr’s dominance was evident throughout the race, as he finished over three seconds ahead of American competitor Yared Nuguse, who clocked in at 3:45.69. Speaking to the BBC, Kerr praised the electrifying crowd support that propelled him toward the record as “just incredible.”
“It was just me, my shoes, and the track,” Kerr reflected. “I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters.” He added, “I didn’t take my foot off the gas, 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.’” Upon crossing the finish line and seeing the time displayed, he expressed joy at achieving his goal of finishing in the 42-second range.
At 28 years old, Kerr’s previous best was 3:45.34, achieved in 2024. This race was a key focus for him during a track season devoid of both Olympics and world championships, allowing him to channel all his efforts into this single event.
The mile race, despite not being part of championship events, holds an iconic status in athletics, especially since another British runner, Roger Bannister, famously broke the four-minute barrier in 1954.
Kerr, who won a silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has now etched his name in history with this remarkable achievement, setting a new benchmark for future generations of middle-distance runners.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
