Josh Kerr sets new World Record mile time, beating 27-year mark

There is a new world record for the fastest mile time.

Josh Kerr posted a blazing 3:42.66 mile time at the Diamond League meet in London on Saturday. This new record surpasses the previous record held by Hicham El Guerrouj, who ran a mile in 3:43.13 in 1999.

The 28-year-old Kerr is known for competing in the 1500m, a more traditional distance. The mile is rarely contested on grand international stages like the Olympics, in part because it is an awkward 1609m, and the racing events are held in 500m increments.

Kerr won the 2024 silver medal in the event and took bronze in the 1500m race in 2020. He did win the gold medal in the 1500m event at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

His new record beats his previous personal best by nearly three full seconds. Kerr ran a 3:45.34 in 2024, which helped him set the 10th fastest mile time in history.

Kerr is sponsored by Brooks, which helped him prepare for Saturday’s world record attempt. It was dubbed “Project 222,” known for the exact number of seconds it would take to set a new world record.

Brooks designed him a specialized speed suit and racing spikes tailored to the runner’s unique gait. The suit was “crafted to enhance aerodynamics and breathability, with laser-cut perforations that release heat and humidity while enhancing mobility.”

The spikes were “designed for Josh’s biomechanics, including his unique foot strike, asymmetrical push-off, and demand for an ultra-aggressive ride.”

Kerr was all confidence when interviewed about the race on Friday. “My body is capable of the mark, and so my job tomorrow is to have my mind to be available to let my body do its job. It’s time for that record to have a real go at it and I’m going to be that guy to do it.”

And after the dust settled on the race, the runner proved to be correct and now can call himself a world record holder.