Britain’s Josh Kerr set a new men’s mile world record at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday, clocking 3 minutes 42.66 seconds to eclipse a mark that had stood for more than 26 years.
The 28-year-old broke the previous record of 3:43.13, set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome in 1999, before completing a lap of honour around the London Stadium.
Kerr’s previous personal best in the mile was 3:45.34, recorded in 2024.
With no Olympic Games or World Athletics Championships on the calendar this season, Kerr had identified the mile at the London Diamond League as one of his primary targets.
Although the mile is not contested at major international championships, it remains one of athletics’ most iconic events. The historic four-minute barrier was first broken by Britain’s Roger Bannister in 1954.
Kerr won the silver medal in the 1,500 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympics.