Josh Kerr breaks men’s mile world record
Britain’s Josh Kerr has shattered the men’s mile world record, previously set in 1999, with an astounding time of 3:42.66, taking half a second off the former best, reports BritPanorama.
The achievement was marked by an exuberant reaction from the crowd at the London Stadium during the Diamond League event, where cheers erupted as Kerr crossed the finish line. Following his record-breaking run, the athlete completed a celebratory lap of honour and was awarded a cheque for $50,000 (£37,200).
Kerr, who won an Olympic silver medal in the 1500m, had anticipated this moment as part of “Project 222,” a strategy focused on breaking down the mile record into measurable parts. His previous personal best was 3:45.34, indicating a significant improvement as he managed to shave nearly three seconds off his time.
In an interview prior to his record attempt, Kerr expressed confidence about his plan, stating, “We’ve broken it down as Project 222, you know, 222 seconds will break the current mile world record.” He aimed to replicate the strategic approach taken by Eliud Kipchoge in marathon running, citing the unique energy of competing in front of a home crowd.
After the race, Kerr reflected on the experience, saying, “It’s very overwhelming with the amount of hype that I…it’s silly to call it that early because there’s a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was just able to stay consistent, put the work in, and I knew I had 3:42 in me.” He acknowledged the pressure towards the end of the race but ultimately succeeded in achieving his goal.
Closing his remarks, Kerr emphasized the importance of his performance in leaving a legacy, articulating a desire to be remembered as a British legend in athletics: “If I’m to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, with the legends behind me and following in their footsteps, I have to put in those performances.” His success today serves as a reminder of the relentless drive within elite sports, where boundaries are only set to be broken.
