JOSH KERR TARGETS MILE WORLD RECORD AT LONDON DIAMOND LEAGUE

Josh Kerr plans to attempt Hicham El Guerrouj's world record for the mile on 18 July at the London Diamond League meeting. The 28-year-old Scottish runner has set a target time of 222 seconds, which would break a mark that has stood for 27 years. Kerr and his team have named the project "Project 222" and are preparing with meticulous attention to detail across all aspects of his training and preparation.

The preparation involves custom-made spikes and a specially designed speed suit tailored to Kerr's biomechanics. His physiotherapist has relocated to his home in Albuquerque, and his parents have travelled from Scotland to stay with him during the build-up. Kerr has implemented ice baths timed to match the exact duration of a mile race, and an altitude room has been installed in his bedroom. He has documented the preparation process on YouTube and describes the overall operation as "a well-orchestrated zoo".

Kerr has stated that "everything's going extremely smoothly" and acknowledged that "a lot of things that can happen" over the remaining weeks before the attempt. He chose London for the record attempt as a tribute to the history of the mile record, which has been broken by six British athletes previously, including Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile in 1954. Kerr has previously drawn public attention to athletics through his rivalry with 1500m runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen and intends to continue raising the sport's profile.