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British runner Josh Kerr ran the fastest mile in history Saturday, clocking 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to shatter the men’s mile world record at the London Diamond League.
Kerr’s historic run broke Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3:43.13, set in Rome in 1999, ending a record that had stood for 27 years, according to The Associated Press.
The 28-year-old then took a celebratory lap around London Stadium after cementing his place in track and field history.
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Video shared by the Diamond League on X captured the historic moment as Kerr threw his arms into the air after crossing the finish line while the packed stadium erupted.
The league’s official account declared, “History made by Josh Kerr!”
The former University of New Mexico standout finished more than three seconds ahead of American Yared Nuguse, who crossed in 3:45.69. Britain’s Jake Heyward finished third in a personal best 3:46.73, according to the official results released by World Athletics.
SABASTIAN SAWE FINISHES LONDON MARATHON IN UNDER TWO HOURS TO BREAK MEN’S WORLD RECORD
Reaction poured in across social media shortly after Kerr’s record-breaking run.
Team Scotland wrote on X: “A new world record. Congratulations to Josh Kerr, breaking the long-standing mile world record with an incredible run of 3:42.66. What an achievement.”
The Olympic Games’ official X account also celebrated the feat, posting: “History made. Great Britain’s Josh Kerr roars to a world record in the men’s mile, snapping a 27-year record in 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League.”
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Kerr had targeted the London Diamond League mile as one of his primary goals this season, which does not include the Olympics or World Championships, according to the AP.
Speaking with BBC Sport after the race, Kerr said the atmosphere inside London Stadium helped carry him through the final stretch.
“It was just me, my shoes and the track,” he told the outlet. “I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters.”
“I didn’t take my foot off the gas,” Kerr continued. “But … I started to glide and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this feels incredible.’ It’s incredible because I’m slowing down. So, I was like, ‘I better get to the line.’ So, crossing the finish line, seeing 42-something, anything, was my goal, so it was great.”
Kerr also reflected on the pressure he put on himself after publicly declaring months ago that he would chase the record.
“It’s very overwhelming with the amount of hype [I created],” he told BBC Sport. “It’s silly to call [the attempt] that early because there’s a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was able to stay consistent and put the work in.”
Kerr said he hoped the performance would help define his legacy in British athletics.
“If I am to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, following in the footsteps of the legends behind me, I have to put in those performances,” he told BBC Sport.
“Those performances take every single part of you, every single part of your team. The amount of work behind the scenes is incredible. Today it was a performance I was able to bring out — I just hoped it would be a little bit faster!”
Before turning professional, Kerr starred at the University of New Mexico, where he won three NCAA titles, captured eight Mountain West championships and set the collegiate record in the 1,500 meters, according to the school’s athletics website.
Saturday’s performance lowered Kerr’s previous personal-best mile time of 3:45.34 by nearly three seconds and erased one of track and field’s longest-standing world records, according to World Athletics.
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