NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
British runner Josh Kerr ran the fastest mile in history on Saturday, clocking 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the men’s world mile record at the London Diamond League.
Kerr’s historic streak surpassed Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3:43.13, set in Rome in 1999, ending a record that had stood for 27 years, according to The Associated Press.
The 28-year-old then took a celebratory lap around the London Stadium after cementing his place in athletics history.
SABASTIAN SAWE FINISHES THE LONDON MARATHON IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS TO BREAK THE MEN’S WORLD RECORD
Team Great Britain’s Josh Kerr celebrates after winning the men’s 1 mile final and setting a new world record during the Novuna London athletics meeting, part of the Wanda Diamond League 2026, at London Stadium on July 18, 2026, in London. (Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
Video shared by the Diamond League on X captured the historic moment when Kerr threw his arms in the air after crossing the finish line as the packed stadium erupted.
The league’s official account declared: “History made by Josh Kerr!”
The former University of New Mexico standout finished more than three seconds ahead of American Yared Nuguse, who crossed in 3:45.69. Britain’s Jake Heyward finished third with a personal best of 3:46.73, according to official results published by World Athletics.
SABASTIAN SAWE FINISHES THE LONDON MARATHON IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS TO BREAK THE MEN’S WORLD RECORD
Team Great Britain’s Josh Kerr poses next to a sign displaying his new world record. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Backlash raged on social media shortly after Kerr’s record-breaking run.
Team Scotland wrote on
The Olympics’ official
SABASTIAN SAWE FINISHES THE LONDON MARATHON IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS TO BREAK THE MEN’S WORLD RECORD
Josh Kerr celebrates moments after breaking the men’s mile world record at the London Diamond League as his fellow competitors finish behind him. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Kerr had targeted the London Diamond League mile as one of his main goals this season, which does not include the Olympics or the World Championships, according to the AP.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the race, Kerr said the atmosphere inside the London Stadium helped him get through the final stretch.
“It was just me, my shoes and the track,” he told the outlet. “I was absolutely deaf in those last 110 meters.”
“I didn’t take my foot off the gas,” Kerr continued. “But… I started sliding and I thought, ‘Oh wow, this feels amazing.’ It’s amazing because I’m slowing down. So I thought, ‘I better get to the line.’ So, crossing the finish line, seeing the 42-somethings, whatever, was my goal, so it was cool.”
Kerr also reflected on the pressure he put on himself after publicly stating months ago that he would pursue the record.
Team Great Britain’s Josh Kerr celebrates after winning the men’s 1 mile final and setting a new world record during the Novuna London athletics meeting, part of the Wanda Diamond League 2026, at London Stadium on July 18, 2026, in London. (Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
“It’s very overwhelming with the amount of advertising [I created]” he told BBC Sport. “It’s silly to call [the attempt] “That early because there are a lot of things that can go wrong, but I’m surrounded by amazing people and I was able to stay consistent and push myself.”
Kerr said he hoped the performance would help define his legacy in British athletics.
“If I want to make 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 told BBC Sport.
“Those performances take every part of you, every part of your team. The amount of work behind the scenes is incredible. Today was a performance I was able to put on; I just hoped it would be a little faster!”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Before turning pro, Kerr starred at the University of New Mexico, where he won three NCAA titles, captured eight Mountain West championships and set the college record in the 1,500 meters, according to the school’s athletics website.
Saturday’s performance shaved nearly three seconds off Kerr’s previous personal-best mile time of 3:45.34 and erased one of the oldest track and field world records, according to World Athletics.
