Josh Kerr, the British middle-distance runner, set a new world record in the mile on Saturday, completing the distance in 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds at a Diamond League meet in London. Kerr’s time broke the previous record of 3:43.13 set by Moroccan athlete Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome in 1999, ending a 27-year reign.

The 28-year-old Edinburgh native celebrated his achievement with a lap of honor around London Stadium. Kerr described his final stretch as intensely focused, saying, “It was just me, my shoes, and the track,” adding that he was “absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters.” He credited the crowd’s support as instrumental in sustaining his pace, calling it “just incredible” during an interview with the BBC.

Kerr's winning time put him clear by over three seconds ahead of American runner Yared Nuguse, who finished second with a time of 3:45.69. Kerr’s previous personal best in the mile was 3:45.34, achieved in 2024.

The mile, though less frequently contested at major international events compared to the 1,500 meters, holds significant historical importance in track and field, notably due to Roger Bannister’s breaking of the four-minute barrier in 1954. Kerr chose to focus on the mile this year, as there are no World Championships or Olympic Games scheduled.

Kerr’s rivalry with Norwegian Olympic 1,500-meter champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has drawn attention to middle-distance running over recent years. Leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the two athletes exchanged comments in both online forums and races, including Kerr’s criticism that Ingebrigtsen’s fastest times depended on pacesetters—a strategy not permitted in major championships. At the Paris Games, Ingebrigtsen finished fourth while Kerr placed second, and American Cole Hocker pulled off a surprising victory.

Last year’s World Championships saw both athletes encounter difficulties: Ingebrigtsen failed to advance past preliminary heats, while Kerr sustained an injury during the final, which was won by Portugal’s Issac Nader. This year, with no major championships on the calendar, Kerr prioritized breaking the mile record, accomplishing a significant milestone in his career and for British athletics.