LONDON — The storied men’s mile record in track that has stood for 27 years will come under attack Saturday from British runner Josh Kerr.
Kerr, the 2023 world champion in the 1,500-meter metric mile, has called it “Project 222” for each second he aims to take in breaking Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds.
“It’s in my favor,” Kerr said Friday at a news conference at London Stadium, which hosted track and field competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics. “My body is capable of the mark, and so my job tomorrow is to have my mind to be available to let my body do its job.”
The 28-year-old Kerr was born and raised in Scotland but ran college track in the United States at the University of New Mexico. He has targeted the mile race at a Diamond League meet as a main goal in a track season with neither Olympics nor world championships.
“I’m very excited. It’s been on my mind, my team’s mind, for a long time,” said the 1,500 silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics.