British runner Josh Kerr set a new milestone in athletic history by running the fastest mile ever recorded. He completed the mile in 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds at the London Diamond League, surpassing the men’s mile world record. Kerr’s remarkable achievement broke Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s record of 3:43.13, which had stood since 1999.
The 28-year-old Kerr celebrated his historic run with a victory lap at London Stadium. The Diamond League shared footage of the race on social media, capturing Kerr’s jubilant reaction as he crossed the finish line with arms raised. The stadium was filled with energy and excitement, highlighting the significance of his triumph. The official Diamond League account announced the news with the statement, “History made by Josh Kerr!”
In the race, Kerr finished significantly ahead of the competition. American runner Yared Nuguse followed Kerr, clocking in at 3:45.69, while Britain’s Jake Heyward achieved a personal best of 3:46.73, securing third place.
In response to Kerr’s incredible performance, Team Scotland congratulated him publicly, acknowledging the breaking of a long-standing record with his impressive time. Similarly, the official Olympic Games account celebrated Kerr’s accomplishment, recognizing his role in ending a 27-year record.
Kerr chose the London Diamond League mile as a critical target for the season. Following the race, he shared his thoughts with BBC Sport, revealing how the atmosphere in the London Stadium motivated him during the race’s final stretch.
Kerr spoke about his focus and experience in the last few moments of the race. He expressed the overwhelming sense of disbelief at achieving his goal of a 42-second finish, emphasizing the determination and effort involved in reaching the milestone.
Reflecting on his journey, Kerr acknowledged the pressure he faced after publicly declaring his pursuit of the record. Despite the challenges, he credited his support network for maintaining his consistency and hard work. Kerr expressed his ambition to leave a lasting impact on British athletics, hoping that this performance would define his legacy.
Before his professional career, Kerr excelled at the University of New Mexico, achieving numerous NCAA titles and setting a collegiate record in the 1,500 meters.
With his Saturday performance, Kerr improved his previous best mile time of 3:45.34 by nearly three seconds, eliminating one of the longest-standing records in track and field history.