Josh Kerr Shatters 25-Year-Old Men's Mile World Record at London Diamond League

Britain's Josh Kerr delivered a historic performance at the London Diamond League on Saturday, shattering the men's mile world record that had remained unbroken for a quarter of a century. The 28-year-old Scot clocked 3 minutes 42.66 seconds at the London Stadium, lowering the previous mark of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome back in 1999.

The meet, billed as the world's best-attended one-day athletics event, drew a near-capacity crowd of approximately 60,000 to the stadium that serves as home to West Ham United Football Club. It was the 11th stop on the 15-leg Diamond League circuit.

Kerr Ends El Guerrouj's 25-Year Reign

Kerr, a two-time world indoor 3,000m champion who is based in the United States, was paced to perfection by his training partner Brannon Kidder and Slovenia's Zan Rudolph. Carried by the roar of the home crowd, Kerr crossed the line and punched the air in triumph, capping a memorable evening for British athletics.

The record had stood as one of the most enduring in track and field, with El Guerrouj's mark from the Italian capital surviving challenges from generations of middle-distance runners. Kerr's performance finally brought the landmark tumbling down on home soil.

Alfred Extends Sprint Streak, Hodgkinson Bounces Back

Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia continued her unbeaten sprint streak, winning the 200m in 21.66 seconds to better her own meet record from 2025. American Gabby Thomas, the 200m gold medallist from the Paris Games in 2024, finished second in 21.81 seconds.

"It was most definitely a tough field," Alfred said. "It's always a pleasure and a privilege to compete against them."

Britain's Keely Hodgkinson, who had ruled out an attempt at the 800m world record, returned to winning form by claiming the two-lap race in 1:56.21. She finished ahead of Dutchwoman Femke Broeders-Bol.

Duplantis Withdraws With European Championships Looming

Swedish pole vault star Armand "Mondo" Duplantis was forced to withdraw from the competition with a thigh issue, just three weeks before the European championships in Birmingham. The US-born world record holder cleared his opening height of 5.60m but failed once at 5.85m before passing.

Duplantis then went over at 5.95m, along with American Sam Kendricks, Australian Kurtis Marschall, and Greece's Emmanouil Karalis. However, when the bar was raised to 6.04m, Duplantis pulled out, with his father and coach Greg watching anxiously from the stands.

Kendricks, a two-time former world champion whose first global title came at the same London Stadium in 2017, claimed victory on countback with a season's best of 5.95m. Duplantis took second, with Marschall and Karalis rounding out the top four.

Warholm, Tharp, and Kayinsola Deliver Standout Performances

Norway's Karsten Warholm, the 400m hurdles world record holder, produced his trademark front-running style to clock a world-leading 46.61 seconds for his first victory of the season. Like Kendricks, Warholm won his first world title at the London Stadium in 2017.

"Competing in London brings back memories of 2017 every single time. It sounds cliche, but this stadium brings very special meaning to me, it is fantastic to be here," Warholm said. "It's a good way for me to start going into Birmingham."

In the men's 800m, American Brandon Miller tracked down Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya with 120 metres remaining and held on for his first Diamond League victory, clocking a personal best of 1:42.19. Wanyonyi, who had set a new world best in the 1,000m in Monaco the previous week, could only manage fourth.

Fellow American Ja'Kobe Tharp claimed his maiden Diamond League win in the men's 110m hurdles, setting a meet record of 12.89 seconds — the joint 12th-fastest time in history. Tharp had previously set a world record of 12.75 seconds during heats at the NCAA collegiate championships in Eugene in June.

"I knew if I could execute, it was going to be a bad day for everybody else," Tharp said. "No race is ever perfect but I was happy enough with how I ran. I was soaking up the atmosphere, I love racing in front of big crowds, so it definitely helped me."

A third American winner came through Cierra Jackson, who smashed her personal best by more than four metres to claim the women's shot put with a Diamond League record of 71.72m on her sixth and final attempt.

In the men's 100m, Nigeria's Ajayi Kayinsola equalled his country's national record of 9.84 seconds into a headwind, finishing ahead of Jamaica's world champion Oblique Seville, who clocked 9.87 seconds.

From a long-awaited mile record to injury concerns and breakthrough victories, the London Diamond League once again proved why it is regarded as one of the premier stops on the athletics calendar. If you enjoyed this recap, share it with fellow track and field fans and join the conversation about the weekend's most memorable moments.

Source: France 24 – English