Britain's Josh Kerr Smashes Men's Mile World Record, Ending a 25-Year Drought

British runner Josh Kerr has shattered the men's mile world record, clocking an astonishing 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on Saturday, July 18, 2026. This monumental achievement at the Wanda Diamond League event eclipses the long-standing record of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999, ending a 27-year drought for a new record holder in the event.

Kerr's historic run, which he had openly targeted as "Project 222" (referring to the number of seconds in 3:42), saw him become the first man in history to break the 3:43 barrier. The 28-year-old Scot executed a meticulously planned race in front of a roaring 60,000-strong crowd at the London Stadium.

The 2023 world 1500m champion expressed feeling "very overwhelming" following his emphatic performance. During the race, American Yared Nuguse finished second, over three seconds behind Kerr, with a time of 3:45.69.