Josh Kerr breaks mile world record in London Diamond League

Great Britain's Josh Kerr shattered the men's mile world record at the London Diamond League on Saturday, clocking 3 minutes 43.13 seconds at London Stadium. The 25-year-old Scot shaved half a second off the previous mark of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999, a record that had stood for 24 years. Kerr's performance stunned the crowd and fellow athletes, with the runner himself describing it as 'unbelievable.' The record is subject to ratification by World Athletics.

The achievement places Kerr among the greatest middle-distance runners in history, breaking one of athletics' most revered marks. El Guerrouj's record had been considered nearly untouchable, surviving challenges from multiple generations of elite runners. Kerr's time, if ratified, will be recognized as the fastest mile ever run on a track. The event drew a capacity crowd to London Stadium, where Kerr, the reigning world 1500m champion, delivered the performance of his career.

Kerr's record comes just weeks after he won gold at the World Championships in Budapest, where he defeated Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m. The mile is not an Olympic distance, but the record underscores Kerr's dominance in middle-distance events. With the Paris Olympics a year away, Kerr's form positions him as a strong contender for gold in the 1500m. The record also reignites debate about the mile's place in major championships, though no immediate changes are expected.

Next steps include World Athletics' ratification process, which typically takes several weeks. Kerr is expected to compete in the 1500m at the European Championships next month. His coach, Danny Mackey, hinted at further attempts on the 1500m world record, currently held by El Guerrouj at 3:26.00. Kerr's mile record adds to a historic night for British athletics, with the men's 4x100m relay team also setting a national record.