New world record holder Josh Kerr has already turned his attention to Commonwealth Games redemption at Glasgow 2026. The Scot smashed the 27-year-old mile world record in London on Saturday, clocking 3:42.66, and is now seeking to win Commonwealth gold in the mile, having finished at the back of the 1500m final in 2022.
Record-breaking performance
Kerr broke the long-standing mile record at the London Diamond League, putting his name into the record books and athletics folklore. “We move on so quickly from what we do,” the 28-year-old said after his record-breaking exploits. “But I hope we will be able to hold onto this one for at least a day before we start saying ‘Josh, what are you going to do at the Commonwealth Games? You better run than you did in 2022!’. Which I will, I promise, I’ll do my job.”
Kerr was battling the aftereffects of COVID when he took to the Commonwealth Games start line for Team Scotland in Birmingham four years ago. Going in as the Olympic bronze medallist, he finished 12th in the final but has since claimed world titles indoors and outdoors, as well as another Olympic medal.
Focus on Glasgow 2026
With just European and Commonwealth gongs missing from a collection that now includes a world record as well as several national records, Kerr has picked to represent Team Scotland over a tilt at European glory in Birmingham later this summer. He will take to the track at Scotstoun for the mile semi-finals on 29 July, having spent many of his formative years at the venue.
The Edinburgh native said: “Being part of Team Scotland for me is just everything that I wanted to do in the sport from when I got into the sport, and you should never drift too far away from that, and I never have. Sadly, in 2018, I couldn’t be selected for the Commonwealth Games. I was close, but I couldn’t get it, and that was probably one of the most disappointing parts of my career, as silly as that sounds. Just because growing up, it is the position I wanted to be in, standing on that start line with my Scotland vest on.”
Ambition and character
There are two sides to Kerr: the one full of bravado that stokes up rivalries, then beats his opponents, and who says he will break a world record, then does it. It is all in an effort to grow the sport he loves and is balanced by a softer side that saw him spend time signing autographs and chatting with youngsters only hours after breaking the world record.
He added: “We've been very lucky to have a lot of competitions in the UK throughout my career...but they're still fleeting. They're going to be the ones that define my career, just because doing it at home is different. Hopefully, you can capture a bit more of your home audience and make an effect in the way that you want to and the kind of effect that you were looking for as a kid as well. I feel like I have a massive opportunity to go out there and win the Commonwealth Games for Scotland in Scotland.”
