British runner Josh Kerr breaks world record for mile which stood for 27 years
news.sky.com
July 18, 2026
3 min read
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Summary
Josh Kerr broke the 27-year-old world record for the mile at the Diamond League meeting in London, completing the race in front of a sell-out crowd of approximately 60,000. His performance shaved half a second off the previous record, bringing the mile record back to British hands.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Kerr broke the 27-year-old world record for the mile, completing the distance in 3 minutes 42.66 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in London.
- Kerr's record-breaking performance was witnessed by a sell-out crowd of approximately 60,000 people.
- The previous mile record was held by Hicham El Guerrouj, set in 1999, and Kerr's victory marks the return of the mile record to British athletes.
- Kerr received a prize of $50,000 for his record-breaking achievement.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- Kerr's splits are mind-blowing — a 3:42 mile is a testament to his training and talent, showing just how far human performance can push the limits.
- The innovations in training, from optimal fuelling to altitude simulation, are game-changers that elevate athletic performance beyond just raw talent.
- Seeing a sub-4 mile live is exhilarating, and Kerr's performance proves that the threshold of human capability keeps advancing.
Concerns
- Many are skeptical that the record's longevity is truly about human progress; it's hard to ignore how much better gear and training methods have become.
- There's a nagging feeling that pacers and equipment skew the purity of the record — should we even count times when technology plays such a significant role?
- Some commentators question the relevance of the mile distance, suggesting that it's been overlooked in favor of more lucrative events, undermining its competitive significance.