Kerr ends a 27-year wait

Josh Kerr broke the men’s mile world record at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on Saturday, 18 July.

The 28-year-old crossed the line in 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds before a sell-out crowd of 60,000.

His time was 0.47 seconds faster than Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3:43.13, set in Rome in 1999.

According to World Athletics’ official report on Kerr’s record-breaking run, he became the first man to complete the distance in under 3:43.

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Project 222 becomes reality

Kerr announced his record attempt in March and built much of his season around the race.

He called the campaign Project 222, a reference to his aim of running the mile in 222 seconds.

The public declaration brought added pressure, as injury, poor weather or a bad race could have ended the attempt before it began.

The scale of the preparation was described by Huo Jingnan in NPR’s report on the record, which detailed Kerr’s altitude training and custom racing kit.

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Pacemakers set a fierce tempo

Kerr began the race behind pacemakers Brannon Kidder and Žan Rudolf.

Kidder passed 400 metres in 54.75 seconds and reached 800 metres in 1:50.63, keeping the attempt close to record pace.

Kerr then took control and reached 1,200 metres in 2:46.39.

He passed 1,500 metres in 3:27.62, faster than his previous British record for that distance.

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The crowd carries Kerr home

Yared Nuguse remained close during the early stages but could not match Kerr’s final-lap speed.

The British runner pulled clear and entered the home straight with the record still within reach.

Quoted by BBC Sport in its report on the London race, Kerr said: “It’s very overwhelming with the amount of hype.”

He later added: “The last lap was incredible. I was deaf in the last 110 metres.”

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Nuguse and Heyward complete the top three

Nuguse finished second in a season-best time of 3:45.69, just over three seconds behind Kerr.

Britain’s Jake Heyward took third in a personal best of 3:46.73.

Robert Farken followed in fourth and set a German record of 3:46.82.

The depth of the field made Kerr’s clear victory even more striking.

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A place among British greats

Kerr became the seventh British runner to hold the men’s mile world record.

He joined a celebrated group that includes Roger Bannister, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram.

Cram had been the last British holder after running 3:46.32 in Oslo in 1985.

Kerr’s achievement brought the record back to Britain for the first time in 41 years.

From injury to a career-defining run

Kerr’s 2025 season ended in disappointment when a calf injury stopped his challenge at the World Championships in Tokyo.

With no Olympics or outdoor World Championships in 2026, he made the mile record his main global target.

The former world 1,500m champion and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist devoted months to the attempt.

The result gave him a place in history beyond medals and championship titles.

A record built by a team

Kerr was the athlete on the track, but Project 222 involved a much wider group.

Coach Danny Mackey shaped the training plan, while Brooks produced custom spikes and a racing suit for the attempt.

Pacemakers, training partners and support staff helped turn a bold public target into a precise race plan.

The official London Athletics Meet report described Kerr’s performance as the result of months of demanding preparation and teamwork.