Josh Kerr Sets New British Mile Record at Diamond League

Josh Kerr broke Steve Cram’s 39-year-old British mile record by defeating Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the Diamond League meet in Oregon. This clash marked the first time the two rivals faced each other since Kerr’s surprising victory over the Olympic champion in the 1500m at last year’s World Championships. Kerr led going into the final lap of the mile and held off Ingebrigtsen, securing victory with a time of three minutes 45.34 seconds.

Meanwhile, fellow Britons Neil Gourley and Jake Wightman finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Steve Cram, who set the previous record in 1985 and was commentating for BBC Sport in Eugene, praised Kerr, saying, “Josh Kerr is getting better and better. That was phenomenal. He is a man full of confidence heading to the Olympic Games.”

In the women’s 800m, Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson displayed commanding form. Despite a fast start from Mary Moraa, the 22-year-old Hodgkinson kept her composure, overtook the Kenyan in the final straight and won in 1:55.78. Consequently, Moraa finished second in 1:56.71, and Briton Jemma Reekie claimed third in 1:57.45.

American Sha’Carri Richardson won the women’s 100m in 10.83 seconds. British athletes Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita placed third and fourth, respectively, with times of 10.98 and 11.00 seconds. In the women’s 1500m, Great Britain’s Laura Muir finished fourth with a time of 3:56.35. Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia won the race, clocking in at 3:53.75.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet set a new world record in the women’s 10,000m, finishing in 28:54.14. Her time was seven seconds faster than Letesenbet Gidey’s previous record of 29:01.03 set in 2021. Chebet noted, “The last lap just motivated me, especially when Gudaf [Tsegay] dropped. Then I realized, ‘Oh, I am the best, so I can go.'”

American Christian Coleman secured victory in the men’s 100m with a time of 9.95 seconds. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala and Brandon Hicklin followed, finishing in 9.98 and 10.08 seconds, respectively.