Josh Kerr was unapologetic about calling his shot to take on the men’s mile world record and Saturday he backed up the move as he shattered the mark in 3:42.66 in front of an ecstatic home London crowd.
Kerr took down what felt like an elusive record as he erased Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old 3:43.13 mark from 1999 at the London Athletics Meet and left nothing up for chance as he surged on the final lap.
“It is very overwhelming,” Kerr said. “There was a lot of hype. I am surrounded by amazing people, so I have continued to put the work in, so I knew I had a 3:42 in me. I nearly lost it there at the end, but I got over the line.”
Yared Nuguse took second in 3:45.69 while Jake Nuguse was third in 3:46.73.
For Kerr, it was apparent from the start that strategy and detail were all the mattered on the opening strides as he tucked into third position and kept a close margin to the pacer. But by the second lap he was more aggressive as Nuguse found separation and showed that he was not in the race simply to push Kerr to a record.
At the bell lap, Kerr, Nuguse and Nuguse had broken away from the rest of the field while Kerr launched into the final phase of his plan as he kicked to the line and new world record.
“If I am to leave my mark on the sport, as a British athlete with the legends I have behind me, to follow in those footsteps, I have to deliver those performances,” Kerr said. “Those performances take every part of you, every part of your team. Out there, I am just the body, but there is an incredible amount of work behind the scenes.”
Keely Hodgkinson took the women’s 800m in 1:56.21 to close the competition as she edged past Femke Broeders-Bol (1:56.46) and Tsige Duguma (1:56.92) who finished third as Karsten Warholm bolted a 46.61 world lead in the men’s 400m hurdles over Emil Agyekum (47.45) and Abderrahman Samba (48.10) while Cierra Jackson captured the women’s discus title in 71.72m as Valarie Sion (68.39m) was second and Jorinde van Klinken (67.99m) finished third.
In the men’s pole vault Sam Kendricks took the win after clearing 5.95m over Mondo Duplantis, who pulled out of the competition at 5.95m and Kurtis Marschall (5.95m) as Marileidy Paulino pulled off a dominant 48.97 to win the women’s 400m over Henriette Jæger (49.15) and Stacey Ann Williams (49.52) while Nicola Olyslagers won the women’s high jump in 2.01m as she got past Yaroslava Mahuchikh (2.01m) and Eleanor Patterson (Australia) – 1.96m.
Julien Alfred bolted to a 21.66 win in the women’s 200m over Gabby Thomas (21.81) and Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.24) while Rai Benjamin grabbed the men’s 400m in 44.05 as he inched past Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.18) and Jacory Patterson (44.25) as Ja’Kobe Tharp roared to a 12.89 in the men’s 100m hurdles to get the victory over Kendry L. Menéndez (13.01) and Trey Cunningham (13.12).
The Diamond League series takes a break as the USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships and Commonwealth Games begin next week, but returns for the Athletissima meet in Lausanne on August 21.
2026 Diamond League London Results
Women’s Discus
1. Cierra Jackson (USA) – 71.72m
2. Valarie Sion (USA) – 68.39m
3. Jorinde van Klinken (The Netherlands) – 67.99m
Men’s Pole Vault
1. Sam Kendricks (USA) – 5.95m
2. Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) – 5.95m
3. Kurtis Marschall (Australia) – 5.95m
Men’s 400m Hurdles
1. Karsten Warholm (Norway) – 46.61 WL
2. Emil Agyekum (Germany) – 47.45
3. Abderrahman Samba (Qatar) – 48.10
Women’s High Jump
1. Nicola Olyslagers (Australia) – 2.01m
2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) – 2.01m
3. Eleanor Patterson (Australia) – 1.96m
Women’s 400m
1. Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic) – 48.97
2. Henriette Jæger (Norway) – 49.15
3. Stacey Ann Williams (Jamaica) – 49.52
Men’s 800m
1. Brandon Miller (USA) – 1:42.19
2. Mark English (Ireland) – 1:42.97
3. Max Burgin (Great Britain) – 1:43.30
Women’s 3,000m
1. Jessica Hull (Australia) – 8:24.69
2. Rose Davies (Australia) – 8:25.38
3. Sarah Healy (Ireland) – 8:25.63
Women’s Long Jump
1. Malaika Mihambo (Germany) – 7.05m
2. Claire Bryant (USA) – 6.94m
3. Larissa Iapichino (Italy) – 6.82m
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA) – 12.89
2. Kendry L. Menéndez (Cuba) – 13.01
3. Trey Cunningham (USA) – 13.12
Men’s 100m
1. Kayinsola Ajayi (Nigeria) – 9.84
2. Oblique Seville (Jamaica) – 9.87
3. Romell Glave (Great Britain) – 9.97
Women’s 200m
1. Julien Alfred (St. Lucia) – 21.66
2. Gabby Thomas (USA) – 21.81
3. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) – 22.24
Men’s 400m
1. Rai Benjamin (USA) – 44.05
2. Matthew Hudson-Smith (Great Britain) – 44.18
3. Jacory Patterson (USA) – 44.25
Men’s Mile
1. Josh Kerr (Great Britain) – 3:42.66 WR
2. Yared Nuguse (USA) – 3:45.69
3. Jake Heyward – 3:46.73
Women’s 800m
1. Keely Hodgkinson – 1:56.21
2. Femke Broeders-Bol – 1:56.46
3. Tsige Duguma – 1:56.92
