Kerr Smashes 27-Year-Old Men's Mile World Record at London Diamond League

**Result:** VERIFIED — Josh Kerr 3:42.66 (men's mile world record)

LONDON — Britain's Josh Kerr smashed the men's mile world record at the London Diamond League on Saturday, clocking 3:42.66 to overhaul Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mark of 3:43.13, according to World Athletics.

The previous record had stood since El Guerrouj's run in Rome in 1999. Kerr's time bettered it by 0.47 seconds, The Guardian reported. The 2020 Olympic 1500m bronze medallist and 2023 world champion surged clear in the closing stages at the Novuna London Athletics Meet before a home crowd.

Kerr's compatriot Keely Hodgkinson returned to winning ways in the women's 800m, though her attempt on the world record fell short, the BBC reported. In the men's 100m, Nigeria's NCAA champion Kayinsola Ajayi claimed a statement victory over Olympic medallist Oblique Seville, Olympics.com reported, underlining a strong African sprint showing on the same bill.

## Why it matters

A mile world record ranks among athletics' blue-riband achievements, and Kerr's run lands three months before the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he is expected to lead the home distance contingent. Ajayi's win signals deepening Nigerian sprint depth ahead of the global championship calendar.

**Sources:** worldathletics.org, BBC, olympics.com, sourcereporters.com