Josh Kerr of Britain breaks the men''s mile world record that stood since 1999
British runner Josh Kerr set a new world record in the mile, finishing in 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds at a London Diamond League meet. He surpassed the previous record held by Hicham El Guerrouj, which had stood since 1999.
Why it matters
This achievement marks a significant milestone in track and field history, breaking a record that remained untouched for over two decades.
Josh Kerr, the British runner who helped stoke a revival in middle-distance drama on the track, added a new chapter Saturday (July 19, 2026) by running the mile in 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the 27-year-old record for the distance.
At a Diamond League meet in London, Kerr broke Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj's mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, set in Rome in 1999. The 28-year-old native of Edinburgh celebrated with a lap of honour at London Stadium.
“It was just me, my shoes and the track,” he said. “I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters. Kerr finished more than three seconds clear of American Yared Nuguse in 3:45.69.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in