Kerr Makes History With 3:42.66 Clocking In London; Cierra Jackson Hits Titanic Throw In Women's Discus

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan Photos

Josh Kerr became the first man in more than a quarter century to break the world record in the mile on Saturday at the London Diamond League. 

The British star who runs for the Brooks Beasts, who spent the past few months training for the moment at London Stadium. 

With two pacemakers going through 1,000 meters and wavelights on the track showing Kerr where he was in relation to Hicham El Guerrouj's 1999 record, a roaring crowd helped bring the Scot home in 3:42.66. El G's record of 3:43.13 had finally been surpassed. 

Kerr's 'Project 222' preparation, documented on YouTube, broke the mile down to the very second and he succeeded in carrying out his thoughtful plan. 

"I wanted to flow with it as well as I can," Kerr said. "My pacemakers did an incredible job through 800. I needed them through 800 and anything after that was a treat. Having them for that first rhythm and being on pace at 800 was perfect. They flowed out of the way as well as they could and I had a lot of work to do in that last 700."

Kerr became the 14th man since Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier in 1954 to hold the world record and the fifth from Great Britain. 

American Yared Nuguse was three seconds behind Kerr for second place in 3:45.69. Seven of the 10 men in the race ran personal best times and nine of them went under 3:50. Nathan Green ran a personal best 3:48.05 in fifth. Simeon Birnbaum was running near the front in the first half of the race but then dropped out. 

A bit earlier in the program, Kerr's Brooks Beasts teammate Brandon Miller continued his hot streak in the men's 800 meters by running a new personal best 1:42.19 to win handily. Miller built upon his stunning victory at the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month. 

Kerr's record wasn't the only one set in London. 

Cierra Jackson achieved an incredible throw of 71.72m (235-3) in the women's discus in the third round and broke the Diamond League record.

The 2025 NCAA champion from Fresno State dealt Valarie Sion a rare loss with that big throw. Sion finished second with 68.39m (224-4). 

Jackson became the No. 2 American all-time in the event. It was the longest throw in the world outside of Ramona, Okla. in the past 37 years. 

In the men's 110-meter hurdles, world record holder Ja'Kobe Tharp broke Aries Merritt's meet record when he beat a loaded field with 12.89 seconds. Kendry Menendez of Cuba was second in a personal best 13.01 and a trio of American were next: Trey Cunningham, Jamal Britt and Cordell Tinch. 

Another upset arrived in the men's pole vault, where Sam Kendricks defeated Mondo Duplantis on a day where he didn't go over six meters. 

Kendricks was clean through 5.95m (19-6) and Duplantis, who only jumped three times before withdrawing with a possible injury, had a miss at 5.85m before making 5.95m and then bowing out. 

Karsten Warholm of Norway broke the meet record in the 400-meter hurdles with 46.61 seconds, which also took over the world lead in the event. 

In a meeting of Olympic champions, Julien Alfred of St. Lucia broke the meet record in the women's 200 meters with 21.66 seconds, slightly slower than what she ran at Monaco. Gabby Thomas of the United States was second in 21.81. 

Rai Benjamin lowered his own personal best in the 400 meters and won with 44.05 seconds. 

Ajayi Kayinsola defeated world champion Oblique Seville of Jamaica in the men's 100 meters. The NCAA champion from Auburn ran 9.84 seconds and Seville was second in 9.87.

In a compelling women's 800 meters, Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson defeated Femke Broeders-Bol of The Netherlands as the two went 1-2 in 1:56.21 and 1:56.46. 

Australians Jessica Hull and Rose Davies went 1-2 in the women's 3,000 meters. Hull ran 8:24.69 and Davies ran a four-second personal best of 8:25.38. 

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic won the women's 400 meters in 48.97 seconds. 

Nicola Olyslagers of Australia edged out Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine in the women's high jump as both of them cleared 2.01m (6-7). 

Germany's Malaika Mihambo won the women's long jump with 7.05m (23-1.75) on her fifth attempt after four consecutive fouls.