Scottish athlete Josh Kerr set a new world record for the mile at a packed London stadium, recording a time of 3 minutes 42.66 seconds. The 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist knocked half a second off the previous record set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999, in front of an ecstatic 60,000-strong crowd.
Steve Cram hails Kerr's achievement
Track legend Steve Cram, 65, praised Kerr's performance, noting that the mile world record is recognised and remembered "around the world." Cram said: "When he looks back in 10 years at the end of his career at the things that he is most proud of, I bet this will be at the top of the list. He is up there with Sir Roger Bannister, John Walker, John Landy, Peter Snell." Cram added that an artist who draws gatherings of mile greats will now include Kerr.
Record details and significance
Kerr's time of 3:42.66 was almost 17 seconds faster than Sir Roger Bannister's historic first sub-four-minute mile in 1954. After the race, Kerr said: "It was just incredible, that last lap. I didn't take my foot off the gas." Lord Coe handed Kerr a $50,000 (£37,192) prize for the achievement.
Preparation and training
Kerr's months of preparations included ice baths lasting exactly three minutes and 42 seconds, and going to bed at 8:30pm in an oxygen-boosting altitude chamber at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque is around 5,250 feet above sea level, and the altitude chamber gives him another 3,000 feet. He eats spinach with almost every meal and practices a 16- to 18-hour food fast from about 6:30pm on Tuesday until around 12:30pm the next day. He also takes sodium bicarbonate before every race, which experts say delays muscle fatigue.
Next event: Commonwealth Games
Kerr began running with Edinburgh Athletic Club at age eight and moved to the US at 17 to attend the University of New Mexico. His next event is the historic "Commonwealth Mile" at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Kerr said: "I will be out in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games for sure." Fast times are expected at the newly laid EDF Scotstoun Stadium, which will host Athletics and Para Athletics events over six days from Monday 27 July to Saturday 1 August 2026. The Men’s and Women’s Mile Finals are on Saturday 1 August, with tickets still available for heats on 29 and 30 July.
Kerr's place in history
Kerr, the Olympic silver medallist and former world champion, said: "If I am to leave my mark on this sport I have to do those performances. I put the work in. I am good at circling the day to perform and doing my job." In Glasgow, he will be joined by fellow Scots Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley. The Men’s 100m at Glasgow will feature London Diamond League winner Kayinsola Ajayi, who ran 9.84s in London.
