2023 World Championship gold medalist Josh Kerr wants to be “the best miler in history”. He has said so himself and has spent an entire season building toward one run. A sponsor-backed, fully publicised attempt on Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old mile world record at the 2026 London Diamond League. The event was always going to attract the best, but 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Yared Nuguse showing up changes the dynamic entirely. The American has a faster personal best in the mile. Project 222, sponsored by Brooks Running,  just got a lot more complicated for Kerr.

Citrus Mag announced the addition to the lineup, revealing that Nuguse will indeed be lining up alongside Kerr. It certainly does make things rather interesting, especially on the back of Nuguse’s recent mile loss. Nuguse competed at the Bowerman Mile during the Eugene DL, where he was shockingly beaten by Cameron Myers. He now looks to the London DL.

Josh Kerr announced in late April that he would attempt to clear Guerrouj’s 1999 Rome Golden Gala record. His chance will come on July 18. It will be the toughest thing he does. Kerr’s fastest time in the mile is 3:45.34, set at the Prefontaine Classic. In comparison, both Yared Nuguse (3:43.97) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:43.73) have clocked faster times. Kerr’s current personal best is only good enough for sixth place, while Nuguse (4) and Ingebrigtsen (3) sit higher than him.

Kerr is backed by Brooks Running, his long-time gear partner. The British runner has spoken about what Project 222 means to him.

“Project 222 is about embracing pressure. Calling your shot, putting yourself out there when everyone is watching, and seeing what’s possible when belief, preparation, and the right support come together.”

But now, Yared Nuguse stands in his way. 

The 27-year-old Nuguse has been in fine fettle during his outdoor season, winning both his 1500m races in the DL. His first came at the Rabat DL, where Nuguse won in 3:30.35. Habz, who has the second-fastest time of the season (3:29.80) for the mile, came in second. He set his record after the Rabat meet.

Nuguse’s second win came during the Stockholm DL when he crossed the line in 3:30.11, a world lead at the time. Cameron Myers settled for second place with 3:30.32, although he would have his revenge not long after. By contrast, Kerr has been selective with his schedule. The British distance runner last competed in mid-June at the USATF LA Grand Prix. He finished fourth in the 800m and has opted to keep his season very light so far.

That does make things rather interesting, even if Josh Kerr remains the man the event has been built around. The Brit has never shied away from the challenge either, insisting from the outset that breaking El Guerrouj’s record was always going to require the very best in the world on the start line.

Josh Kerr reflects on his potential world record attempt

There’s been something about Josh Kerr this season. Despite a limited number of major races this season, the British distance runner has still been in peak form. In fact, he won the 3000m World Indoor Championship title in Poland during the indoor season. He clocked the second-fastest time in the competition’s history to claim his second ever 3000m indoor gold since his win in 2024. Since then, Kerr has only run two more times this season, with an appearance at the LA Track and USATF LA Grand Prix. 

That’s largely because he sustained a calf injury in 2025 and has been taking things easy since then, with the focus on the record.

“Everything’s going extremely smoothly,” Kerr told BBC Sport in June. “You know when you call your shot this far in advance, there’s a lot of things that can happen and we’re still three weeks or so out. It’s definitely on, I just need to handle the variables that are going to come my way and, with a little bit of luck on my side, I’m sure I’ll be in a really good spot.”

There’s a reason why Hicham El Guerrouj’s mile world record has stood the test of time. After all, it’s one of the toughest races to run in distance running, even if Jakob Ingebrigtsen nearly broke it in 2023. Since then, however, nobody has come within touching distance of Kerr. Niels Laros (3:45.94), Cole Hocker (3:45.94) and Cameron Myers (3:46.06) are the closest since. Josh Kerr plans to change that, though, at the London DL.

“I just want to put my name up against some of the best Brits in the history of the sport and I want to be known as the best miler in history,” Kerr added.

Nuguse’s arrival means Project 222 is no longer just Josh Kerr against the clock. He’ll first have to beat one of the world’s fastest milers to reach history.