Runner Josh Kerr breaks 27-year record for world’s fastest mile

New York Post ^ | July 18, 2026, 1:33 p.m. ET | Jake Nisse

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There’s a new world record in the world of running.

At the Diamond League meet in London on Saturday, Scottish runner Josh Kerr posted a blazing 3:42.66 mile to break a 27-year men’s record.

Hicham El Guerrouj previously ran a 3:43.13 in 1999, but Kerr, 28, has now become a world record holder.

Kerr said in March that he was aiming to break the record, and he did just that in front of 60,000 fans at London Stadium.

“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.

“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.

“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!”

Kerr is now the seventh Brit to become a record holder in the mile, with Steve Cram last achieving the feat in 1985.

The runner, who specializes in the 1500m, has taken home two Olympic medals, having won a silver in Paris and a bronze in Tokyo.

He also won the world championship in the same distance in 2023.

Without the World Championships or the Olympics scheduled for this year, Kerr put his focus on setting the mile record.

It felt like I had a kitchen full of amazing incredible chefs and I was like, ‘What the hell are we going to,,,

[BluH2o]

I was around in May 1954 (10 years old) when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier. It was a big deal ... breaking news everywhere.

[Secret Agent Man]

I heard for his motivation he thought of the craziest b1tch he ever met...

[SharpRightTurn]

“I heard for his motivation he thought of the craziest b1tch he ever met...” I could see how he would be inclined to pick the old feet up and move along speedily with that kind of motivation.

[Bookshelf]

Then his record was broken only a few weeks later by either an Aussie or New Zealander.

[hecticskeptic]

And there is this about exercise in general....

1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

[Tymesup]

Elephants, too. Not sure why they need speed.

[Zuriel]

**And there is this about exercise in general....
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.**

Very true. But back then there was a great deal of walking everywhere. And no MickeyD’s and sugarbomb drinks.

God expects us to take good care of our earthly tabernacles. That requires eating sensible and not sitting around all day.

My 6’ tall youngest brother, never the athletic type, had to have a health scare to get serious about dropping weight and exercising. Bless his heart, he was 275 and now is around 210.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

A mile a minute is 60 miles an hour. Four minute mile is a quarter of that, 15 mph So he was a little faster than that. Math wizardry not required.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yeah, its a plausible explanation, right?

[Paal Gulli]

Yes, I know he probably wasn't on 'Roids but I've been following pro cycling long enough to know they're all -- ALL OF 'EM -- on something. EPO, peptides, ketones, ... something. It's infiltrated every sport in existence (even badminton!!) because they've created masking agents, adulterants and administration techniques to thwart the anti-PEDs testing. So they dope with impugnity.

The saying going around is, 'you can't fail the drug test unless you first fail the IQ test.'

And the proof that he's doped is ... HE WON. As Lance Pharmstrong showed us, you can't beat the dopers if you're not yourself doped.

[Paal Gulli]

One point I forgot.

The 11th stage of the 2026 Tour de France was last week. It was 97 miles. The first 110 finishers had a time of 3 hours 10 minutes 6 seconds, a speed of 30.6 mph.

Thirty miles an hour and change. 97 miles. On a bicycle (and lots of dope).

And did any of them test positive? FUGGEDDABOUDIT!

[KarlInOhio]

How often are sanctioned mile races run anymore? Everywhere I see it is meters, meters, meters. The current 1500 meter record of 3:26 would be 3:41 for a mile if you could keep the same pace to get the extra 110 meters.

[trebb]

Must have a heart like a racehorse - and theirs can get up to 240 BPM...from a resting beat of around 25 BPM.

The best humans can reach close to 200 BPM and drop to between 35 and 40 BPM at rest - when I was in my prime, I never checked my max, but my resting rate was between 45-52 BPM.

[Poser]

“As Lance Pharmstrong showed us, you can’t beat the dopers if you’re not yourself doped.”

Am I the only one that has noticed the uncanny resemblance of the results of the current Tour de France champion (Pogacar) with those of Armstrong in the 90s? He has the absolute ability to just take off on the steep mountains and leave everyone else sucking wind. Of course, it could be just a coincidence and he really is that much better than everyone else, or perhaps Occam’s Razor should be considered.

[Poser]

Jim Ryun was the G.O.A.T. in my youth at 3:51.1

[Tommy Revolts]

Remarkable.

[LastDayz]

Dang.... that’s fast. Used to run track in high school with a guy that hit the four minute mark while my slow azz self could only manage a 5:15.

[BobL]

“At the Diamond League meet in London on Saturday, SCOTTISH RUNNER Josh Kerr posted a blazing 3:42.66 mile to break a 27-year men’s record.”

No wonder the Romans built Hadrian’s Wall - those Scots could rip.