Josh Kerr runs fastest mile in 27 years: Kerr's time, previous records and more

Josh Kerr runs fastest mile in 27 years: Kerr's time, previous records and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Throughout the years, we have seen track and field athletes take down a variety of world records, but the mile has been one that's been untouched for a while.

Some of the sport's greatest mid-distance runners have tried to take down the long-standing record held by Hicham El Guerrouj, but none have been able to run faster.

Josh Kerr, 28, is in the prime of his running career, and not too long ago, he announced he'd be making a run to break the mile record.

On Saturday, he had his shot at breaking it, and stepped up when it mattered most.

Josh Kerr runs fastest mile in 27 years: Kerr's time, previous records and more

Kerr has medaled on the World Championship and Olympic stages, but some could argue breaking this long-standing mile record would be an even bigger accomplishment.

That he did, running 3:42.66 in the full mile race. El Guerrouj held the previous record at 3:43.13, which Kerr beat by 0.47 seconds.

Crazy, crazy scenes 🤯

History made by Josh Kerr! One Mile - 3:42.66 ⏱️#DiamondLeague 💎 #LondonDL 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ettwECWUIu

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 18, 2026

Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran a 3:43.73 in 2023, but that was the closest a runner has gotten to the record in recent years.

Kerr has now set a precedent for what's possible, and even though it took years for one of the toughest records in track to be broken, other runners will make it a goal to try to beat the new time Kerr set.

We saw runners like USA's Yared Nuguse try to hang on with Kerr to steal the show, but it was clear Kerr was more prepared and fit to be in reach of breaking the near-three-decade-long record.