Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-Year Mile World Record on the Line at London Diamond League

Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-Year Mile World Record on the Line at London Diamond League

What's at Stake?

Josh Kerr is set to attempt to break Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old Mile World Record at the London Diamond League meeting on July 18. Kerr, a member of Project 222, has been training to take down the record, which has stood since 1999.

A Record in Jeopardy

The current record of 3:43.13 has stood for nearly three decades, with no one coming within half a second of it. However, in the last four years, the all-time list has shifted dramatically, with five different men running under 3:46. This momentum is building, and it's likely that we'll see a new record set soon.

A Strong Field of Athletes

On Saturday, July 18, a strong field of athletes will gather at the London Diamond League meeting, all vying for the top spot. Josh Kerr will be joined by Yared Nuguse, Ethan Strand, and Hobbs Kessler, all of whom have run under 3:47 in recent years. This will be a closely contested race, with each athlete pushing themselves to the limit.

The Pacing Situation

Zan Rudolf and Brannon Kidder are expected to pace this year's meeting, helping to set a fast and competitive pace. The athletes will need to average 55.78 seconds per lap to break El Guerrouj's record, a feat that will require precision and skill.

The Splits to Hit

To break the record, Kerr will need to hit the following splits: 55.50 seconds for the first lap, 55.50 seconds for the second lap, 55.50 seconds for the third lap, and 55.50 seconds for the final lap. This will be a challenging task, but Kerr is confident in his abilities.

What Comes Next?

The London Diamond League meeting will take place on July 18, with coverage beginning at 8:00 AM ET and the Mile event scheduled for 10:36 AM ET. Fans can tune in live on FloTrack to see if Kerr will be able to break El Guerrouj's record.