Josh Kerr breaks mile world record at London Diamond League

Josh Kerr made history at the London Diamond League on Saturday, obliterating the 27-year-old world record for the mile. The British athlete crossed the finish line in 3:42.66, shattering the previous mark of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome on July 7, 1999.

Kerr, the 2023 World Champion in the 1500 meters, delivered a stunning performance in what was described as the greatest mile race in history, with six athletes finishing under 3:49. The 28-year-old dedicated years of preparation, including spending twelve hours daily in a hypoxia chamber, to achieve this feat. American Yared Nuguse finished second with a time of 3:45.69, followed by Britain's Jake Heyward in third at 3:46.73, a personal best.

The event also featured strong performances from other athletes. Keely Hodgkinson, a two-time Diamond League champion, secured a victory in the women's 800 meters with a time of 1:56.21. She outpaced Dutch star Femke Bol, who finished second in 1:56.46.

In the men's pole vault, American Sam Kendricks won with a mark of 5.95 meters. He shared the same height as Sweden's Armand Duplantis, who withdrew due to discomfort after clearing the bar at 5.95 meters. This victory marked Kendricks' first Diamond League win in over five years. Dominican athlete Marileidy Paulino also impressed, winning the women's 400 meters with a time of 48.97 seconds, her fourth circuit victory this year.