Team GB star Josh Kerr SMASHES incredible 27-year-old world record as he sets stunning new one-mile time

JOSH KERR sensationally smashed the one-mile world record that had stood for 27 years. The Scottish middle-distance runner came to the London Stadium in a bullish mood, claiming that he would run faster than anyone else had done over the magical distance. Josh Kerr celebrates wildly after smashing the long-standing one-mile world record in front of a roaring London Stadium crowd Credit: Getty An emotional Kerr punches the air after delivering on his promise to become the fastest miler in history Credit: Getty The Scot crosses the finish line in a record-breaking 3:42.66 to erase Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old mark Credit: Getty Kerr soaks up the applause after producing one of the greatest performances of his career in front of 59,000 fans Credit: Getty And incredibly he delivered on his words, running a time of 3:42.66 in the penultimate race of the meeting in front of 59,000 fans. It was a superb performance and Kerr, 28, thanked his team and celebrated wildly after crossing the line ahead of the wavelights which had been set to world record pace. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! It was quicker than the previous mark of 3:43.13 which had been set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome on July 7, 1999. It was in front of World Athletics President Seb Coe and Steve Cram, commentating for BBC TV, who had both set world mile records in their track days. The 222 project – 222 seconds – had been something on Kerr’s mind all year and he produced when it mattered. With two pacemakers and wavelights to guide his way, he was off the mark until the final lap when he put the afterburners down. The noise in the crowd was similar to the ear-splitting audio heard at the London 2012 Olympics and London 2017 World Athletics Championships. For his efforts, he received a $50,000 bonus cheque off the granddaughter of Sir William Emsley Carr, who edited the News of the World for more than fifty years and a huge backer of sporting events. Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS World record holder Josh Kerr celebrates after writing his name into athletics history with a stunning run in London Credit: Getty Kerr, who is based in the US, will now head to Glasgow where he will be favourite to win the race at the rescheduled Commonwealth Games. American Yared Nuguse was second in the 14-man field in a time of 3:45.69, a season’s best. Comment now