Josh Kerr breaks 27-year-old mile world record with 3:42.66 at London Diamond League
The 28-year-old Briton ran 3:42.66 at London Stadium, beating Hicham El Guerrouj's 1999 mark by 0.47 seconds and delivering on his 'Project 222' goal.
The record run
Josh Kerr delivered on his eight-month "Project 222" at the London Diamond League on Saturday, clocking 3:42.66 to break Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record of 3:43.13, which had stood since 1999. The 28-year-old Scot, a 2023 world 1500m champion and Olympic silver medallist, was paced by training partner Brannon Kidder through 800m and Slovenian Zan Rudolph to 1000m, hitting splits of 54.75, 55.88 and 55.76 seconds before a final lap that carried him 0.47 seconds under the old mark. US record-holder Yared Nuguse chased over the closing stages but finished second, with Welshman Jake Heyward third in a national record 3:46.73.
That was not me, that was my team every single step.
Kerr's performance earned him a $50,000 cheque presented by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who himself held the mile record during the 1980s. The time shaved almost three seconds off Kerr's previous personal best of 3:45.34.
- 54.75s split
- 55.88s split
- 55.76s split
- 3:42.66 total
- Hicham El Guerrouj (1999)
- 223.13 seconds
- Josh Kerr (2026)
- 222.66 seconds
Other meet highlights
The London Stadium, filled with a near 60,000-capacity crowd, saw several standout performances. Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia bettered her own meet record in the 200m, winning in 21.66 seconds ahead of American Gabby Thomas (21.81). Keely Hodgkinson took the women's 800m in 1:56.21, while Brandon Miller of the US won the men's 800m in 1:42.19.
It was most definitely a tough field. It's always a pleasure and a privilege to compete against them.
Irish breakthroughs
Irish middle-distance runners delivered personal bests. Mark English, 33, clocked 1:42.97 to finish second in the 800m, dipping under 1:43 for the first time and becoming the second Irishman to do so after national record holder Cian McPhillips (1:42.15). McPhillips placed seventh in 1:43.97. Sarah Healy took third in the 3000m with 8:25.63, a PB by over a second, as Australia's Jessica Hull won in 8:24.69. Para sprinter Orla Comerford won the women's 100m in 11.79, extending her unbeaten run.
Duplantis withdraws with thigh issue
World record pole vaulter Armand Duplantis cleared 5.95m but withdrew before the 6.04m attempt due to a thigh problem, with his father and coach Greg watching from the stands. American Sam Kendricks won on countback at 5.95m, with Duplantis second and Australia's Kurtis Marschall third. The injury comes three weeks before the European Championships in Birmingham.
What comes next
Kerr will now target the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where a mile showdown with compatriot Jake Wightman and Australian Cameron Myers is anticipated. Irish athletes English, McPhillips and Healy are also focused on the Europeans in Birmingham, with English seeking a sixth European medal. At the European U18 Championships in Rieti, Ireland's Lucie Cawley claimed silver in the 2000m steeplechase with an Irish U18 record of 6:36.22.
It was a battle right to the end. I'm very happy with how it played out.
