Great Britain’s Josh Kerr smashed the long-standing men’s mile world record with a spectacular performance at the London Diamond League.
Having announced his intention back in March to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year mark on home soil, Kerr delivered in emphatic fashion as he crossed the line in three minutes 42.66 seconds.
Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 60,000 at London Stadium, the five-time global medallist bettered the Moroccan’s mark – untouched since 1999, when Kerr was aged one – by nearly half a second.
The 28-year-old became the seventh British athlete to claim the mile record, and first since Steve Cram in 1985.
Kerr had lined up as the sixth-fastest man in history over the mile with a British record personal best of 3:45.34.
He was joined on the start line in London by American Yared Nuguse, fourth on that all-time list and a genuine threat to the Olympic silver medallist’s challenge.
But, in the end, it was only ever going to be Kerr.
Initially assisted by two pacemakers, who were both gone by the 1000m mark, the Scot was peerless as he pressed on in pursuit of the wavelights on the curb of the track measuring his progress.
Bringing the crowd to their feet, Kerr went through 1500m faster than his British record over that distance and never wavered, with the emotion evident on his face as he raised his arms aloft in celebration.
