Josh Kerr broke the men’s mile world record on July 18, 2026, running 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League to beat Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old mark.
How Fast Was The Record
Kerr ran the mile in 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds at the Novuna London Athletics Meet, part of the Wanda Diamond League season. This beat the previous record of 3:43.13, set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome in 1999, according to World Athletics. Kerr became the first man in history to run the mile in under 3:43.
The Story Behind Project 222
Kerr called his world record attempt “Project 222,” a reference to the 222 seconds he needed to beat the old record. He had spoken about this goal for months before the race. Kerr told BBC Sport before the event that the mile record is one of the oldest and most respected marks in track and field, and that he felt ready to attempt it after a strong start to his 2026 season, based on reporting from BBC Sport.
How The Race Unfolded
Kerr was paced through the race by training partner Brannon Kidder and pacemaker Žan Rudolf. Kidder led the field through the first 400 meters in 54.75 seconds, with Kerr close behind at 55.3 seconds. Kidder continued to lead through 800 meters, which Kerr passed in 1:51.1, before the pacemakers stepped aside. Kerr then took over the lead and passed 1200 meters in 2:46.39, pushed on by a crowd of 60,000 fans inside London Stadium, according to World Athletics.
Ivan Toney Named in Tuchel’s Much-Changed England Squad for France Clash
Ivan Toney has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s much-changed England squad for the World Cup third-place playoff against France. Why England Are Playing France…
Where Kerr’s Time Ranks
Kerr’s previous personal best in the mile was 3:45.34, set at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. His new world record time improved on that mark by nearly three seconds, based on data from FloTrack.
| Runner | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Kerr (GBR) | 3:42.66 | New world record |
| Yared Nuguse (USA) | 3:45.69 | Second place, season-best |
| Jake Wightman (GBR) | 3:46.73 | Third place |
What Kerr Said After The Race
Kerr described the moment as overwhelming right after crossing the finish line. He said he had prepared carefully and trusted his training enough to believe a sub 3:43 mile was possible, though the final stretch of the race tested him mentally, according to comments he gave to Olympics.com.
Other Notable Results From The Meeting
Kerr’s record was one of several standout performances at the London Diamond League. Keely Hodgkinson won the women’s 800 meters in 1:56.21, holding off Femke Bol who finished second in 1:56.46. In the discus, Cierra Jackson set a Diamond League record with a throw of 71.72 meters on her final attempt, adding 34 centimeters to the previous record. Meeting records were also set by Karsten Warholm in the 400 meter hurdles and Julien Alfred in the 200 meters, according to FloTrack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What time did Josh Kerr run to break the mile world record?
Josh Kerr ran 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds at the London Diamond League on July 18, 2026.
Q: Whose record did Josh Kerr break?
Kerr broke the record held by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj, who ran 3:43.13 in Rome in 1999. The record had stood for 27 years.
Q: Where did Josh Kerr set the world record?
Kerr set the record at the Novuna London Athletics Meet, held at London Stadium as part of the Wanda Diamond League season.
Q: What is “Project 222”?
Project 222 was the name Kerr gave to his world record attempt. It refers to the 222 seconds he needed to run to beat El Guerrouj’s mark.
Q: Is Josh Kerr the first man to run a mile under 3:43?
Yes. Kerr became the first athlete in history to complete the mile in under 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
Q: Who paced Josh Kerr during the record run?
Kerr was paced by training partner Brannon Kidder and pacemaker Žan Rudolf for the first 800 meters of the race.
Q: What was Josh Kerr’s personal best before this race?
Kerr’s previous best was 3:45.34, set at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. He improved on that time by nearly three seconds.
Q: Who finished second and third in the race?
Yared Nuguse of the United States finished second with a season-best time of 3:45.69. Jake Wightman of Great Britain finished third in 3:46.73.
Q: What other records were set at the same meeting?
Keely Hodgkinson won the women’s 800 meters in 1:56.21. Cierra Jackson set a Diamond League discus record with a throw of 71.72 meters. Meeting records were also set by Karsten Warholm in the 400 meter hurdles and Julien Alfred in the 200 meters.
Q: What did Josh Kerr say after breaking the record?
Kerr said the moment felt overwhelming and that he trusted his training enough to believe he could run under 3:43, though the final stretch of the race tested him mentally.
