Josh Kerr, who competes primarily in the 1,500 metres, had been targeting the record as part of what he called ‘Project 222’ – and today, his attempt in London was successful
Team GB star Josh Kerr has broken the 27-year-old world record for the mile at the London Diamond League.
The 28-year-old middle-distance runner, who competes primarily in the 1,500 metres, clocked an astonishing three minutes and 42.66 seconds. Competing in front of a sold-out home crowd at the London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, he took nearly half a second off Hicham El Guerrouj’s legendary 27-year-old mark of 3:43.13.
The retired Moroccan runner had set the record in 1999. With today’s run, Kerr successfully fulfilled his highly publicised season-long campaign, “Project 222,” named after the 222 seconds he targeted to run a 3:42 mile.
Kerr finished more than three seconds ahead of US athlete Yared Nuguse, whose time was 3:45.69. “It was just incredible, that last lap,” Kerr told the BBC.
“It was just me, my shoes and the track. I was absolutely deaf in the last 110 metres.” He continued: “I didn’t take my foot off the gas, but I started to glide and I was like ‘oh wow this feels incredible.’ It’s incredible because I’m slowing down.
“So, I was like ‘I better get to the line’. So, crossing the finish line, seeing 42-something – anything – was my goal, so it was great.” Despite breaking a world record, the runner said he hoped “it was going to be a little bit faster.”
He added that the race was “very overwhelming” as “there was a lot of hype.” He shared: “I am surrounded by amazing people and was just able to stay consistent, put the work in, and I knew I had 3:42 in me. I nearly lost it there at the end, but I got over the line.”
The runner continued: “If I’m to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, with the legends behind me and following in their footsteps, I have to put in those performances.”
Kerr’s previous best before Saturday’s run was 3:45.34. The athlete announced his world record attempt in March.
He said at the time: “For me, this wasn’t an idea to hopefully save athletics but it is definitely a situation where ‘why not?’. Why not go after something like this in front of as many people as possible?
“It’s been a really fun journey and I like challenging myself. I like goals that are lofty and I think this sport needs moments, and I was willing to give it.”
Saturday’s win earned him a cheque for $50,000 (£37,000). Thanks to his win, the mile record is back in British hands after Roger Bannister became the first person to run under four minutes in 1954.