Josh Kerr of Britain breaks the men’s mile world record that stood since 1999

Josh Kerr, the British runner who helped stoke a revival in middle-distance drama on the track, added a new chapter Saturday by running the mile in 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the 27-year-old record for the distance.

LONDON — Josh Kerr, the British runner who helped stoke a revival in middle-distance drama on the track, added a new chapter Saturday by running the mile in 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds to break the 27-year-old record for the distance.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

At a Diamond League meet in London, Kerr broke Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj’s mark of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds, set in Rome in 1999. The 28-year-old native of Edinburgh celebrated with a lap of honor at London Stadium.

“It was just me, my shoes and the track,” he said. “I was absolutely deaf in that last 110 meters.”