Josh Kerr broke one of the oldest and most revered records in track and field on Saturday, clocking a time of 3:42.66 in the London Diamond League mile. The two-time Olympic medalist from Great Britain surpassed Hicham El Guerrouj’s legendary 1999 mark of 3:43.13. Kerr announced his ambitions to chase the record in March, carefully structuring his season to peak for the event and choosing London to race in front of a home crowd.
The 1200-Meter Time Trial
Before the race in London, Kerr shared a specific training session that convinced him the record was within reach. On July 3, the Scotsman completed a 1200-meter time trial in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was paced by Brooks Beasts teammate Brannon Kidder during the three-lap run. The session, which Kerr posted on his YouTube channel, is described in the video as the “biggest workout of the build-up.”
Kidder and Kerr averaged 55-second laps for the first 800 meters, which is right at mile world record pace. Kerr then took over for the final lap, closing in a fast 51.88 seconds. Their combined time was 2:42.45. This figure is unofficially the fastest 1200 meters ever recorded. The workout took place at an elevation of about 5,300 feet, meaning the performance likely translates to an even faster time at sea level.
After finishing the time trial, Kerr walked around the track feeling confident. He jokingly told his team that he only needed a 60-second lap to break the world record. Brannon Kidder, who would later pace Kerr through 800 meters in London, responded with enthusiasm. “Holy shit, dude. You got it,” Kidder said.
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Shaping the Race
Kerr has been selective with his racing schedule this season. After announcing the record attempt in March, he ran two 800-meter races in May and June. He skipped competitive 1500 or mile events to focus on a long training block. The standout performance was the 1200-meter time trial.
Tim Hutchings, who commentated on the world feed for Kerr’s race on Saturday, admitted the time trial shifted his perspective on the outcome. Moments after Kerr broke the record, Hutchings said the 2:42 performance made him change his prediction from 50/50 to 75 percent likely. Kerr’s sponsor, Brooks, created a bespoke pair of spikes and a speedsuit specifically for the record attempt. The decision to unveil the plan four months before the race carried a risk of things going wrong, but the fitness data from Albuquerque suggested the gamble would pay off.
For an in-depth look at how elite athletes push physical limits, see [1] Josh Kerr break the 27 year old mile record.
