London Diamond League results: Josh Ker smashes men’s mile world record

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr broke the long-standing men’s world record with a stunning performance in the London Diamond League.

Kerr, who announced his intention to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old record on home soil in March, did so in emphatic fashion as he crossed the line in three minutes 42.66 seconds.

Cheered on by a sold-out crowd of 60,000 at the London Stadium, the five-time world medalist improved the Moroccan’s score – untapped since 1999, when Kerr was a year old – by almost half a second.

The 28-year-old became the seventh British athlete to break the mile record and the first since Steve Cram in 1985.

Kerr became the sixth fastest man in history with a personal best of 3:45.34.

He was joined at the start line in London by American Yared Nuguse, who sits fourth on the all-time list and poses a real threat to the Olympic silver medalist’s challenge.

But in the end it would just be Kerr.

Aided by two pacemakers at the start, who had both passed the 1000m mark, the Scot was unchallenged as he chased the wave lights at the edge of the track that measured his progress.

Bringing the crowd to its feet, Kerr covered this distance 1500m faster than the British record and never hesitated; The emotion was clearly visible on her face as she raised her arms in the air in celebration.

More to follow.