Reaction after 'unbelievable' Edinburgh runner Josh Kerr smashed 27-year mile world record
Edinburgh runner praised for incredible achievement
Reactions have been pouring in after Edinburgh runner Josh Kerry smashed the mile world record which had been in place for 27 years.
The Olympic 1500m silver medallist and 2023 world champion raised eyebrows when he set out his stall in March, announcing his intention to wipe out Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old mark of three minutes and 43.13 seconds.
But the 28-year-old, decked out in a custom Brooks speed suit and spikes, proved he could practice what he preached by blazing to the finish at the Diamond League meet at the London Stadium on Saturday, July 18 in three minutes, 42.66s, with an incredible average speed of 16.2mph.
He finished well ahead of Paris 2024 1500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse, who was second in 3:45.69, while Briton Jake Heyward rounded out the podium in a personal-best 3:46.73.
The world of athletics has been left in awe at Kerr’s incredible achievement. Legendary runner Sebastian Coe led tributes to the Edinburgh runner.
He said: “It was unbelievable. He set out the target and he did it in front of 60,000 people. It was mental resilience I have rarely seen in any competition.
“He is mahogany hard and he got the record in the most spectacular way. The crowd was huge as well and they were with him every step of the way.”
The world of politics was also left in awe. Former First Minister Jack McConnell was in the stadium for the historic occasion.
He said: “Incredible afternoon at the Novuna Diamond League. Congratulations Josh Kerr. Best sporting moment of 2026. Watching him beat the mile record on UK soil, sitting with the last UK athlete to break a world record on UK soil, Brendan Foster, was truly special.”
Current First Minister John Swinney added: “World record! History made by Scotland’s Josh Kerr. A remarkable achievement - you have made Scotland proud, Josh.”
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge passed on his congratulations. He said: “Edinburgh’s own Josh Kerr has made history! Breaking the men’s mile world record and ending a 27-year reign. What an unbelievable achievement!! Congratulations Josh!”
The Edinburgh athlete had branded the world record attempt “Project 222” a nod to the number of seconds it takes to run a 3:42.00 mile, his ambitious target. Kerr’s previous personal best, the 3:45.34 British record he set at the Prefontaine Classic in 2024, was also 2.21 seconds slower than El Guerrouj’s mark.
Kerr is now the seventh British man to hold the world mile outdoor record after clocking 3:42.66 in London.
Even the music world was full of praise for this incredible achievement, with ‘500 miles’ Edinburgh band The Proclaimers tweeting: “Congratulations to Josh Kerr for breaking the mile record. It’s stood for 27 years.”
And TV money man Martin Lewis said of Kerr’s word record: “Privilege to be here to see Josh Kerr break El Guerrouj world record from back in 1999. The noise was incredible, the atmosphere was deafening, the sound was the only thing travelling around the track as fast as him. Brilliant.“