Scotland’s Josh Kerr capped one of the greatest two-week stretches in middle-distance running by winning the men’s mile title at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, delighting a home crowd at Scotstoun Stadium.
Just 14 days after rewriting history with a world-record mile of 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League, Kerr added Commonwealth gold with a tactically brilliant victory in 3:54.12. The race marked the return of the mile to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 1966, making his triumph even more significant.
Unlike his record-breaking run in London, the Commonwealth final unfolded at a much slower pace. Kerr stayed patient through the early laps before unleashing his trademark acceleration with around 250 metres remaining. Once he hit the front, there was no catching him.
Australia’s Cameron Myers claimed the silver medal in 3:55.26, while Kenya’s former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot took bronze in 3:55.41. Fellow Scot Jake Wightman finished sixth after briefly featuring among the leading group.
The victory carried special meaning for Kerr, who grew up competing at Scotstoun Stadium and had spoken before the Games about fulfilling a childhood dream of winning a major title on home soil. After missing out on gold at the previous Commonwealth Games, the 28-year-old made amends in front of an ecstatic Scottish crowd.
Kerr’s latest success further cements his status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance runners. Already the 2023 world 1500m champion, he now adds a Commonwealth mile title to a remarkable season that has seen him break one of athletics’ oldest and most iconic world records.