Josh Kerr to target Mile world record in London on July 18
"It's time to bring the Mile world record home. We have an amazing history of Milers in this country and it's important to go after these records when you're capable."
By Harry Poole, BBC Sport journalist
Great Britain's Josh Kerr will attempt to break the long-standing men's outdoor Mile world record at the London Diamond League meeting this summer.
Hicham El Guerrouj's current mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds has stood since 1999.
Kerr, who won his third world title by storming to indoor 3000m gold in Poland last week, has a personal best of 3:45.34 over the Mile distance - a British record which places him sixth on the all-time list.
"It's been a huge goal of my career. It's one of the oldest world records on the track and I think it's one of the most important ones," Kerr told BBC Sport.
"It has stood the test of time and needs a huge amount of respect. With the training numbers that we're putting up, I think this year is such a great opportunity to have a real crack at it while not giving up other opportunities.
"It's something that I feel confident to talk about going after. It's a really exciting time."
The London meet, one of 15 stops in this season's Diamond League schedule, takes place on Saturday, July 18.
Kerr reclaimed the indoor 3000m title he won in Glasgow two years ago to complete his post-injury return to global success.
That came six months after the 28-year-old's world 1500m title defence in Tokyo was ruined when he tore a calf muscle during the final.
Back to full health and with no outdoor World Championship to target in 2026, the Olympic 1500m medalist has decided to chase the mark of Morocco's El Guerrouj over a Mile, the iconic distance at which he will seek Commonwealth gold on home soil two weeks later.
"This sport needs moments. I think that setting my goals and being very clear on that is a huge part of giving this record the respect that it deserves," Kerr said.
"To do it in front of a British crowd would just make it extremely special. It's going to be a tough one but I truly think that I'm capable of going after these times."
Continue reading at: bbc.com
Mile world record progression HERE.
