Josh Kerr’s Mile World Record Nominated for World Athletics Award

What changed

Josh Kerr’s mile world record and Sabastian Sawe’s sub-two-hour London Marathon have been nominated for World Athletics’ moment of the year award. Kerr ran 3:42.66 in London in July, breaking Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old record by almost half a second; Sawe ran 1:59:30 in April, lowering Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 marathon record by more than a minute. Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay title at the world relays is the third nominee.

Why it matters

These are not simply fast times placed on an awards list. They mark two of athletics’ most imposing barriers falling in the same year: the mile record and the two-hour marathon.

Kerr’s run carried the force of a home performance, with the London Stadium crowd behind him. Sawe’s race was even more unusual: Yomif Kejelcha and Jacob Kiplimo also finished under the previous world record while placing second and third.

The nomination gives World Athletics a choice between individual brilliance, a historic marathon breakthrough and a relay victory powered by a home crowd. The winner will be announced at the awards in Monaco on 29 November.