Newly crowned World Indoor 3000-metre champion Josh Kerr has set his sights on something a little more iconic: the men’s mile world record.
The 28-year-old Scot confirmed that he will target Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s long-standing mark of 3:43.13. His plan is to tackle the 1609m event at the Novuna London Athletics Meet. London is part of the Wanda Diamond League and takes place on Saturday, July 18. The attempt will come on home soil, inside London Stadium, in the storied Emsley Carr Mile.
Kerr is no stranger to the distance. His British record of 3:45.34, set in May 2024, places him sixth on the all-time list. This is within striking distance of a record that has stood since 1999. A relic of one of middle-distance running’s most dominant eras.
Now, he’s calling his shot.
“This record deserves to be done at home,” Kerr said, framing the attempt under the banner of “Project 222.” “This record needs to be brought home, and this is a British record. This is a British distance; it would be doing a disservice to the UK not to be doing it at home.”
There is confidence, but also a measured respect. Something Kerr has grown into as his career has matured on the global stage.
“I am really excited. There are no guarantees in this; it is a record that deserves a lot of respect. I believe I am respecting it by coming out and talking about it. I want to do it with the people I have behind me—I have an amazing team.”
The stage itself carries weight. The Emsley Carr Mile, first contested in 1953, returns to London for just the third time in the past decade. Established by Sir William Carr in honour of his father. Sir Emsley Carr—the former News of the World editor—the race has long been a centrepiece of British middle-distance tradition.
For Kerr, that history is part of the appeal.
“The Emsley Carr Mile has an incredible history. And to have the opportunity to compete in that event in London is special.”
The London Athletics Meet remains the crown jewel of the Diamond League circuit. It is the largest one-day athletics event in the world, and serves as the 11th stop in the 15-meet 2026 series. Beginning in Doha on May 8 and culminating in Brussels on 4–5 September, the circuit gathers the sport’s elite across four continents.
But on July 18, the focus will narrow to one man, one distance, and one clock.
And perhaps, for Kerr, a record coming home.
