London, Jul 18 (AP) British runner Josh Kerr ran 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the longstanding men's mile record at a Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.
Kerr broke Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj's mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, set in Rome in 1999 and then set off on a lap of honor at London Stadium.
Kerr was so dominant on Saturday that he finished just over three seconds clear of American Yared Nuguse in 3:45.69.
The 28-year-old Kerr's previous best time was 3:45.34 in 2024.
He had targeted the mile race at the Diamond League meet as a main goal in a track season with neither Olympics nor world championships.
The mile is not a championships event yet has iconic status in track history, with the four-minute barrier finally broken in 1954 by another British runner, Roger Bannister.
Kerr was a silver medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (AP) AM AM AM
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