Runner Josh Kerr Chases Mile Record That's Stood Since 1999

A world record older than some of today's Olympic athletes might finally fall this summer, and the runner brave enough to chase it isn't doing it quietly.

Josh Kerr, a three-time world champion from Scotland, will attempt to break the mile world record on July 18 at the London Diamond League meet. The current mark of 3:43.13 has stood since 1999, set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome.

"It's one of the most important track and field records of all time right now," Kerr told Runner's World. "I'm not trying to do this quietly, because I think it deserves more respect than that."

The 28-year-old brings serious credentials to his quest. He's won Olympic bronze and silver medals, claimed world championship gold, and just captured his third world title this past weekend in the 3,000 meters.

Kerr needs to shave more than two seconds off his personal best of 3:45.34 to make history. He's working with Brooks to design custom racing spikes and a speedsuit tailored specifically to his power-to-weight ratio and running form at 55-second quarter-mile pace.

Unlike recent record attempts that used special conditions or experimental equipment, Kerr insists his effort will happen in a real race with legal, World Athletics-approved gear. "It needs to be a legal attempt, not a time trial," he says. "That was number one."

The timing is strategic. Without Olympics or World Championships in 2026, Kerr can dedicate his entire season to this single goal. "We're treating this like our Olympic Games," he explains.

He won't be alone in the chase. Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen has announced similar record ambitions and came within half a second of the mark in 2023. Other contenders include Olympic champion Cole Hocker and rising stars like Phanuel Koech and Niels Laros.

Why This Inspires

Kerr's approach shows what's possible when athletes aim for greatness in the open, not behind closed doors. His insistence on a legal attempt in a real race honors both the sport's history and the legend who set the record 27 years ago.

The record chase comes after Kerr's lowest moment last September, when he limped across the finish line in last place with a grade two calf tear. Sometimes our greatest motivation emerges from our toughest defeats.

This isn't just about personal glory. Kerr wants to create a moment that elevates track and field itself, bringing attention and respect to a record that's proven nearly unbreakable for nearly three decades.

On July 18, whether Kerr breaks the record or not, he'll show up ready to run faster than any mark in the books.