Josh Kerr smashes men's mile world record with 3:42.66 in London
LONDON — Britain's Josh Kerr broke the men's mile world record at the Diamond League meeting here on Saturday, clocking 3:42.66 to erase Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:43.13 mark that had stood since 1999, according to World Athletics and the BBC.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Sat, 29 August 2026 · 1 min read
LONDON — Britain's Josh Kerr broke the men's mile world record at the Diamond League meeting here on Saturday, clocking 3:42.66 to erase Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:43.13 mark that had stood since 1999, according to World Athletics and the BBC.
The 28-year-old from Edinburgh surged clear over the final lap at the London Stadium, taking 0.47 seconds off a record many had considered untouchable. World Athletics confirmed the time as a new world best, subject to routine ratification.
Kerr's run headlined a sold-out Novuna London Athletics Meet watched by about 60,000 spectators. Olympics.com reported the performance as the standout of the evening's Diamond League programme.
In other events, Keely Hodgkinson returned to winning ways with a home victory in the women's 800m, edging Belgium's Femke Bol, while Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred beat Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in the women's 200m, according to Olympics.com.
## Josh Kerr mile world record: by the numbers
Kerr's 3:42.66 beat El Guerrouj's 1999 record of 3:43.13 by 0.47 seconds — the first men's mile world record in 27 years. The previous mark had survived longer than any other current men's track world record.
The result strengthens British middle-distance form ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Kerr has said he wants to challenge, according to the Glasgow 2026 organising committee.
**Related:**
- [Diamond League 2026: schedule and full results](/sport/diamond-league-2026-schedule)
- [Keely Hodgkinson returns to winning ways in London](/sport/hodgkinson-800m-london-2026)
**Sources:** worldathletics.org, BBC
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