"It was a heck of a journey" - Josh Kerr on breaking the world mile record in London

Josh Kerr broke the world record in the men's mile at a meet in London, becoming the new world record holder in the event. The Scottish-born athlete, who grew up in Edinburgh, said he deliberately chose to stage the attempt on home soil, turning down alternative venues including Monaco and Los Angeles. *On choosing London:* Kerr was explicit that running the record attempt in the UK was a deliberate and personal decision. "I have to do it at home," he said, adding that "London have done such an incredible job for me" and that being able to do it in what he called "the best stadium in the world" was everything he could have asked for. *On the race execution:* Kerr said his pacemakers delivered exactly what he needed through 800 metres, after which he described having "a lot of work to do in that last 700." He noted the final 100 metres felt long, and that his last splits — 41 and 42 seconds — were slightly outside what he had hoped for on his best day, saying he had targeted 40 or 41 for the final portion. *On his team and the journey:* Kerr was emphatic in crediting those around him, describing himself as "a body out there of work that everyone else has done for me." He referenced a YouTube documentary series — Project 222 — that he said chronicled the full build-up to the record attempt. *On role models and inspiration:* Kerr cited the influence of British milers who came before him, naming figures including the Whitemans, Chris O'Hare, and Lee Emanuel as athletes whose performances gave him something to aspire to. He said he hopes his own record will now serve the same purpose for the next generation. *On future records:* Kerr indicated that the 1500m world record is a target, saying "the 1500 world record is within my grasp," though he was quick to add that he did not want to be greedy and noted that over-ambition had cost him at previous major championships including Tokyo. He also praised fellow British milers Jake Wyman and Neil Gurley as part of a broader resurgence of the event in the UK. *On celebrating:* Asked how he would mark the achievement, Kerr kept it brief: "There might be a couple of pints."