Josh Kerr is preparing to make a bold attempt at the mile world record, targeting the London Diamond League meeting on July 18. The Scottish runner has openly announced his ambition to surpass Hicham El Guerrouj's record of 3:43.13, a mark that has stood since 1999.
Kerr, who currently holds a personal best of 3:45.34 and ranks sixth on the all-time list, sees the London event as a fitting stage due to its historical significance in the mile. Six British athletes, including Roger Bannister, have broken the mile record on British soil. Kerr aims to be the seventh.
"Everything's going extremely smoothly," Kerr told BBC Sport. "You know when you call your shot this far in advance, there's a lot of things that can happen and we're still three weeks or so out. It's definitely on, I just need to handle the variables that are going to come my way and, with a little bit of luck on my side, I'm sure I'll be in a really good spot."
Kerr's public declaration aligns with his broader goal of increasing attention on athletics by highlighting its personalities, achievements, and rivalries. This follows his previously noted competitive relationship with 1500m rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen. His attempt to break El Guerrouj's record represents another effort to draw more eyes to the sport.