UK’s Josh Kerr smashes longstanding world mile record in London

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that Britain’s Josh Kerr broke the men’s mile world record at the London Diamond League on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Kerr, 28, ran 3 minutes 42.66 seconds at London Stadium, improving on Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 mark by 0.47 seconds and cutting nearly three seconds from his own personal best.

The race was staged before an announced crowd of about 60,000. Kerr had publicly aimed for a time under 223 seconds through his “Project 222” preparation plan, and the result made him the sixth British athlete to hold the mile record. He was paced by training partner Brannon Kidder and Slovenia’s Zan Rudolph, while American Yared Nuguse stayed close until the closing 200 metres before Kerr pulled away.

The achievement is significant because El Guerrouj’s record had stood for 27 years in one of track and field’s most historically prominent events. British runners have a deep connection to the mile, from Roger Bannister’s first sub-four-minute run in 1954 to later record holders including Steve Ovett, Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram. Coe, now president of World Athletics, presented Kerr with a $50,000 award at the meet.

Al Jazeera also reported other London Diamond League results, including Keely Hodgkinson winning the women’s 800 metres, Brandon Miller taking the men’s 800 metres, Julien Alfred winning the women’s 200 metres, and Armand Duplantis withdrawing from the pole vault after discomfort in his left thigh.