Josh Kerr of Britain breaks the men’s mile world record that stood since 1999

LONDON (AP) — British runner Josh Kerr ran 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the longstanding men’s mile record at a Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.

Kerr broke Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, set in Rome in 1999 and set off on a lap of honor at London Stadium.

The 28-year-old Kerr’s previous best time was 3:45.34 in 2024.

He had targeted the mile race at the Diamond League meet as a main goal in a track season with neither Olympics nor world championships.

The mile is not a championships event yet has iconic status in track history, with the four-minute barrier finally broken in 1954 by another British runner, Roger Bannister.

Kerr was a silver medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

The Associated Press