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The mile world record could finally be broken, and Britain’s Josh Kerr is aiming to do it on home soil. In this episode Paul Coyte looks at one of the most iconic records in athletics, the men’s mile world record of 3:43.13, set by Hicham El Guerrouj back in 1999.Now, more than 25 years later, that record is under serious threat. With the London Diamond League providing the stage, Josh Kerr is targeting a historic performance in front of a home crowd. Fresh from major championship success and back to peak fitness, this could be the moment British athletics reclaims one of its most famous records. The mile has a rich history in the UK, from Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute barrier in 1954, to legends like Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram dominating the event for decades, this is a distance deeply rooted in British sporting history.WATCH ABOVE.
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0:00
Let me tell you, that was probably the fastest five yards that's been done in this building
0:08
across the office today. That's as good as I can do. And I'm absolutely knackered
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Now, imagine running a mile in under four minutes. I'm Paul Coyte, and while I get my
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breath back, welcome to sport on GB News Originals. Okay, now there are records in athletics
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I don't know if you like me, but I love athletics. Track and field goes back to probably being a kid
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late 70s, early 80s, live from Crystal Palace. Everything was always on
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BBC Two on a Friday night. And these athletes were heroes. Now, there are records
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And there are great athletic records. The kind that don't just sit in the history books
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They practically gather dust. They're untouched. They're unchallenged. They're almost mythical. Do you know where I'm going with this
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Well, let me tell you one of those, the hallowed men's mile world record
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We're talking about a mark that stood firm now since 1999. So we're 27 years in and this record still stands
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Over two decades of athletes coming and going, pushing limits, rewriting boundaries
1:24
And yet this one has refused to budge. There are many reasons for this, because let's be honest, people don't really run the mile as often as they used to
1:32
You've got the metric mile, which is the 1500 metres, but there's still something special about that mile record
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Hicham El-Garouge of Morocco at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Three minutes, 43.13 seconds
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That's the number. Brutal, brilliant and for a long time, seemingly untouchable
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But now there's a real sense that something may be about to change because this summer in London, one of Britain's finest middle distance runners is lining up with that exact target in mind
2:05
Josh Kerr. Fresh off another major title, back to full fitness and right in the prime of his career
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This is not just another race on the calendar. This is a calculated shot at history
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the London Athletics meet it's part of the Diamond League circuit and it's not short on big moments
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but this could really be something else entirely 80,000 people home crowd
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perfect stage and a record that feels like it's just waiting for the right day
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and the right runner Josh and let's be honest Britain in the Mile
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well we go way back and I mean a long way back
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let's go back shall we 1855 Charles Westhall, a name you may not be familiar with
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but he was the Josh of his day and set the standard at 4 minutes and 28 seconds
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A century later, in 1954, the most famous of all of them
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Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to break the four-minute barrier at Oxford
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And it's a moment that didn't just change athletics. I mean, it changed what humans believed was possible
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That record didn't stay put for too long. Just 46 days in fact But Britain kept its grip on the mile Derek Ibbotson brought it back in 1957 and then came the golden era In 1975 New Zealander John Walker
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was the first to break the 350 barrier. Nobody touched this. It was like four years
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Nobody could get near it until this is when we start getting really serious
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and it started getting really exciting for this country. July 1979, when the Brits came along again
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Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram. From 1979 to 1985, the record change hands six times all between those three Brits
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So after Sebastian Coe breaks it on the 17th of July 79, it lasts for a year
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Then in Oslo, again, it was Steve Ovett's turn on the 1st of July 1980
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Now that stood for a while. And then we start chopping and changing over a matter of days
4:14
This is over a matter of about a week and a bit. Sebastian Coe in Zurich breaks the world record and makes it 3.48.53
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and that happens in Zurich. Then Steve Ovick comes along the next week in Koblenz in Germany
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and then he knocks even more time off it, which is actually just like a very minuscule amount
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3.48.40. Then Sebastian Coe, it's like, that's my record. I don't want you having that record
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I want it back because you know what that rivalry was like between the two of them from the 26th of August, then to the 28th of August
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So two days later, Sebastian Coe in Brussels breaks the record again and takes nearly a second off of it
4:56
Now, that lasts for four years. That's almost untouchable. Ovec can't get near it. But then this young Geordie, Steve Cram, comes along
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But that's not until the 27th of July, 1985. and then he is the fastest Britain for a long time at 3.46.32
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From the late 70s through to the early 90s, the world mile record wasn't just competitive, it was British
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So the idea of bringing that record back home? Listen, it's not just an ambition, it's a tradition
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Now, before we hear more from the man himself, we thought we'd have a bit of fun here in the GB News office
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We are some of the staff behind the scenes. A very simple question
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What do you think the fastest mile ever run actually is? So, we're here with Will Godley
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What do you think the men's mile record is? That's a really good question, one I have absolutely no idea about
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I'm going to say three minutes and 45 seconds. I'm going to guess three minutes and 50 seconds
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Three and a half minutes? the men's mile record how fast they've run them out
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five minutes five and a bit minutes i'd say three minutes 51 seconds good guess
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andy has just said three minutes 51 seconds and i'm guessing that's right so i have no view
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whatsoever i'm backing i'm taking the fit right so we're here with alex armstrong what do you
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think the men mile record is this is going to be a disastrous answer because i haven got the foggiest clue fastest mile in minutes i gonna say 27 minutes 27 minutes too long i did say it would be a terrible idea there we go you got my guess 4.27
7:06
4 minutes 20 seconds So we're here with GB News' resident runner
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What do you think the men's mile record is? I believe it's about 3.42
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Very close I remember when they broke the 4 minute mile so I'm just trying to think
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it must be three minutes and three and a half minutes it must be
7:37
About six minutes. Some bold shouts there, I've got to say. A few optimists
7:46
and a few who clearly haven't run for a bus in a while, but fair play. Now, let's get
7:50
back to the serious business, shall we? We caught up with Josh Kerr to talk
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about the challenge ahead, the history behind it and whether this really could
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be the year that that world mile record finally falls. Good to see you, Josh. Morning, how
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we doing? Really well. Listen, firstly, congrats on the gold medal at the indoors, which was
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just the other week. So many congratulations on that. But the mile thing really excites
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me. It's all very well talking about space travel. But for me, this is like the this
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is where no man has gone before. I mean, it's been years, hasn't it, since El Garouge had
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that world record and you're going to go for it. Yeah, you're right
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I was sitting watching the space travel and I was like, it's going to be tough to follow that one
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But yes, it's 1999 that world record stood from and I think it's time to have a real crack at it
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And like you were saying, British medal distance running. I think the last time a British person broke that record
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was 1985, Steve Cram. So the history is really important here and it's time to bring that back to the UK
8:54
Yeah. See, and not only that, but we can go back to talking about Roger Bannister, because I guess you were brought up on these stories, weren't you
9:01
You're far too young to even remember Steve Cram. I remember running. But the of course, the legend of Roger Bannister in 54, breaking the four minute mile
9:10
It's it is it legend as far as you're concerned. And that's the reason you're going to be going for this
9:15
Yeah, I think it's a balance. So, you know, for British middle distance running, you're right
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I think those guys are on a pedestal because of what they were able to achieve in the sport
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but also the records and the history they were able to make. I'm finally at a point in my career where I've got a couple of medals behind me
9:31
and I think it's time to have a real crack at it. Again, I think this record is British from where Bannister kicked us off, I think
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and brought us into the scene. There's some pretty great backup record holders in the last, I think
9:47
six record holders we've had in the UK. So, yeah, it's all part of my master plan of being etched in history alongside those legends of the sport
9:57
Josh is there something about breaking the four mile when you a young runner Is that almost a target when you start out Yeah it a real stepping stone You know once you crack that
10:10
then you kind of don't know what's possible after that. Then you're like, okay, what's next? And yeah, I was able to crack that when I was in university
10:19
That would be, I don't know, 10 years ago now. And, you know, it's just been chipping away at it
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And I'm down at 345, which is I was able to break the British record coming off a cram from, yeah
10:32
that would be a couple of years ago now. And, again, it's a couple more chips at it, and we're getting pretty close
10:38
So, yeah, it's the year to do it. See, obviously, you don't get as many mile runs as you would, you know
10:44
because obviously we're 1,500 metres, et cetera. So every now and again they come up. So I think it's the Emsley Car Mile
10:49
It's that legendary mile race. How do you prepare? because I remember when Elia Kipchoge broke the 159 for the marathon a few years ago
11:02
Is it like a project that you're putting together? Is it an actual race or are you going to have certain pacemakers
11:09
How is it all going to work? Yeah, we've broken it down as project 222
11:15
You know, 222 seconds will break the current mile-wood record. And yes, it will be a similar approach
11:22
However, it will be within a regular race. The London Diamond League put on such an amazing event
11:28
that I thought this is the best way to honour the record
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but also the best way to break it as well, to do it in front of a British crowd. There's some question marks around weather and things like that
11:40
but I think that's worth it when you can do it in front of 60,000 people in London
11:46
It's a big project. There's going to be a lot of different stuff going into training
11:51
and to be fair, being up at 11.30 at night isn't something I normally do
11:56
but to be able to chat to you guys, it was definitely worth it. But we've got 15 weeks
12:00
so I'll do some sleep over the next little time. Listen, I really appreciate it and the fact we're going to keep in contact with you
12:05
Listen, I've got to say though, is it true the full body suit, that with the sunglasses
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everybody's going to be dressed like this straight after July, there's no question. I'll hopefully keep you fast
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Aerodynamic is the name of the game. So we've been working on the speed suit, working on the spikes
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and the sunglasses won't be too far behind. Listen, best of luck, and I can't wait
12:28
I think it would be the most amazing thing. So July 18th, London Stadium, Josh Kerr going for that world mile record
12:34
and it should be back in this country where it belongs. And let's hope Jakub Ingebrigtsen is not going to be anywhere near that darn race
12:40
as far as I'm concerned, although in the years you're probably going to smash it anyway. Good to see you, Josh. Thanks a lot for your time
12:46
All the best. Great. fascinating stuff and you can sense the belief
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can't you? that's just in me this isn't just talk this is preparation
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meeting opportunity and if everything clicks on the night we could be witnessing something truly special
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on British soil it's a record that stood for a generation potentially rewritten
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in front of a home crowd which is not bad for a summer's evening in London
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that's all for now don't go anywhere there's plenty more to come on Sport and GB News Originals
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with me, Paul Coy. And also check out more of our sports coverage on the GB News Sport playlist
13:22
And there's a link on the description below. Thanks for watching and do stay tuned
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