Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-Year-Old World Record Broken by Josh Kerr

Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old world record in the mile has been broken by British runner Josh Kerr. Kerr clocked 3:42.66 seconds at a Diamond League meet in London on Saturday, leaving the Moroccan athlete's previous mark of 3:43.13 in the dust.

What happened?

Kerr's record-breaking performance came at the London Stadium, where he finished more than three seconds ahead of the field. American Yared Nuguse crossed next in 3:45.69. Kerr's achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.

Why it matters for Hicham El Guerrouj

Hicham El Guerrouj's world record had stood since 1999, and Kerr's breaking of the record is a significant milestone in the world of track and field athletics. El Guerrouj's record had been a benchmark for athletes for nearly three decades, and Kerr's achievement is a reminder that records are meant to be broken.

What comes next?

Kerr's record-breaking performance is a significant achievement, but it also raises questions about what's next for the British athlete. Will he continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in the mile, or will he focus on other events? Only time will tell.

Kerr described the final stretch of the race as an out-of-body experience. "It was just me, my shoes and the track," he told the BBC. "I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters." He said he could feel himself easing up near the finish line, in the best possible way. "I started to glide, and I was like, 'Oh wow, this feels incredible,'" he said, adding that simply seeing "42-something" on the clock as he crossed the line was exactly the goal he'd set for himself.

The record breaks Kerr's own previous personal best of 3:45.34, set in 2024, by nearly three full seconds. Ahead of the race, Kerr told Yahoo Sports he felt ready for the moment: "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."

Behind the scenes, Kerr's preparation reportedly had a name: "Project 222," a nod to the 222 seconds it would take to break the record. His sponsor, Brooks, built him a custom racing suit designed with laser-cut perforations to manage heat and humidity, along with a pair of spikes engineered around Kerr's specific running mechanics, including his stride pattern and push-off style.

The mile isn't an Olympic or World Championship event, but it holds a legendary place in track history, most notably as the distance Roger Bannister famously broke the four-minute barrier in back in 1954, another milestone credited to a British runner.

Kerr, 28, finished more than three seconds ahead of the field, with American Yared Nuguse crossing next in 3:45.69. Afterward, the Edinburgh native took a celebratory lap around London Stadium.