Athletics: Kerr Eyes Mile World Record

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr will attempt to break the long-standing men’s mile world record at the London Diamond League meeting this summer.

Hicham El Guerrouj’s current mark of three minutes 43.13 seconds has stood since 1999.

Kerr, who won his third world title by storming to indoor 3,000m gold in Poland last week, has a personal best of 3:45.34 over the mile distance – a British record which places him sixth on the all-time list.

“It’s been a huge goal of my career. It’s one of the oldest world records on the track and I think it’s one of the most important ones,” Kerr told BBC Sport.

“It has stood the test of time and needs a huge amount of respect. With the training numbers that we’re putting up, I think this year is such a great opportunity to have a real crack at it while not giving up other opportunities.

“It’s something that I feel confident to talk about going after. It’s a really exciting time.”

The London Athletics Meet, one of 15 stops in this season’s Diamond League schedule, takes place on Saturday, 18 July.

Kerr reclaimed the indoor 3,000m title he won in Glasgow two years ago to complete his post-injury return to global success.

That came six months after the 28-year-old’s world 1500m title defence in Tokyo was ruined when he tore a calf muscle during the final.

Back to full health and with no outdoor world championship to target in 2026, the Olympic 1500m medallist has decided to chase the mark of Morocco’s El Guerrouj over a mile, the distance at which he will seek Commonwealth gold on home soil two weeks later.

“This sport needs moments. I think that setting my goals and being very clear on that is a huge part of giving this record the respect that it deserves,” Kerr said.

“To do it in front of a British crowd would just make it extremely special. It’s going to be a tough one but I truly think that I’m capable of going after these times.”

Sir Roger Bannister became the first person to break the four-minute barrier for the mile in Oxford in 1954, bringing the world record back into British hands after Sydney Wooderson’s mark was surpassed in 1942.

Bannister only held the record for 46 days, but Derek Ibbotson reclaimed it for Britain in 1957. Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram ensured the record remained in British hands between July 1979 and September 1993.

“It was a non-negotiable to do it in the UK,” said Kerr.

“I think that’s massively special. It’s time to bring the mile world record home.

“We have an amazing history of milers in this country and it’s important to go after these records when you’re capable.”