British runner Josh Kerr ran 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the longstanding men’s mile record at a Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.
Kerr broke Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, set in Rome in 1999 and then set off on a lap of honour at London Stadium.
Kerr was so dominant on Saturday that he finished just over three seconds clear of American Yared Nuguse in 3:45.69.
The 28-year-old Kerr’s previous best time was 3:45.34 in 2024.
He had targeted the mile race at the Diamond League meet as a main goal in a track season with neither Olympics nor world championships.
The mile is not a championships event yet has iconic status in track history, with the four-minute barrier finally broken in 1954 by another British runner, Roger Bannister.
Kerr was a silver medalist in the 1,500m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
AP
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.