Josh Kerr has set his sights on joining the ranks of British middle-distance legends after breaking a long-standing world record in the mile. The Edinburgh-born athlete, 28, recorded a time of 3 minutes 42.66 seconds in London this month, surpassing the mark previously held by Hicham El Guerrouj since 1999.

Kerr expressed awareness of the legacy established by Steve Ovett, Seb Coe, and Steve Cram, the iconic British “miracle milers” who collectively improved the mile world record six times between 1979 and 1985. He credits his parents and coach Danny Mackey—who himself competed during that era—for instilling an appreciation of that golden age of athletics.

Reflecting on the prominence athletics once held, Kerr noted how events featuring Ovett and Coe regularly made front-page news, as the pair frequently exchanged world records until Cram ultimately seized the milestone. Kerr said his goal has been to revive that level of excitement around the mile and recreate its status in the modern athletic scene.

The Scot’s achievements extend beyond his record-breaking run. He won gold in the 1500 meters at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and has claimed world indoor titles in 2024 and 2026. Despite falling short of Olympic gold—earning bronze in Tokyo 2020 and silver at the Paris 2024 Games—Kerr has compiled an impressive résumé. He acknowledged the importance of the world record for elevating his career and cementing his place among middle-distance greats.

Following his recent victory, Kerr celebrated with a steak and beer and described his first training session afterward as feeling like his legs “got hit by a bus,” jogging at 5 a.m. the following morning.

The mile event has returned to the Commonwealth Games program this year after a 60-year absence, replacing the 1500 meters. It was previously contested between 1930 and 1966 when the competition was known as the Empire Games. Kerr will join fellow Scots Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley in competing at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium, raising the prospect of a historic 1-2-3 podium finish for Team Scotland.

On his future in the sport, Kerr emphasized his commitment to the mile discipline. He said he does not have ambitions to move up to longer distances such as the 5,000 or 10,000 meters, and believes his competitive edge is strongest when he has a clear and exciting goal. “I love what I do. I respect the sport of running. I’m going to be a miler until I’m done with the track,” he said.