London Diamond League 2026: Kerr mile bid and how to watch
The London Diamond League 2026 takes place Saturday at London Stadium, headlined by Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800m (15:51 BST) and Josh Kerr's mile world-record bid (15:36 BST). Live coverage starts at 13:00 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with a near 60,000 crowd expected.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Kerr targets Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record of 3:43.13, set in 1999, in the Emsley Carr Mile at 15:36 BST.
- Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson races at 15:51 BST, prioritising a win after a difficult stretch rather than a forced record chase.
- BBC One and BBC iPlayer coverage begins at 13:00 BST from London Stadium.
- Stars including Armand Duplantis, Julien Alfred, Oblique Seville and Zharnel Hughes also feature on the card.
When is the London Diamond League 2026 and how can you watch?
Saturday's London Athletics Meet is the home Diamond League stop at London Stadium. According to the BBC, live coverage runs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 13:00 BST, with live text and highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.
Key track times include the men's 100m at 15:04, women's 200m at 15:15, men's 400m at 15:26, the Emsley Carr Mile at 15:36 and the women's 800m at 15:51 BST. For more outsized sports moments, browse Bizarre World on BlasterPost.
Why does Josh Kerr's mile attempt matter?
The 28-year-old Scot, the 2023 world 1500m champion, is chasing Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj's mark of 3:43.13. Kerr's personal best is 3:45.34 from 2024, so he needs to find 2.21 seconds.
He announced the bid in March under the banner "Project 222" and said he is "not scared of failing." Custom spikes and an aerodynamic suit are part of the plan. Training partner Brannon Kidder will pace him, with fellow Scot Neil Gourley also in the race. U.S. Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse, fourth on the all-time mile list, lines up too.
What is Keely Hodgkinson's focus in the women's 800m?
Hodgkinson, 24, has spoken about athletics' longest-standing individual track world record — Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1:53.28 from 1983 — but after a tricky outdoor stretch she is easing the pressure.
"I'm in really good shape and in a really good place," she said, adding that winning and "being back on top" is the main aim. She faces Ethiopia's Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol. Georgia Hunter Bell and Phoebe Gill both withdrew.
Who else should fans watch in London?
Pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis features, as does Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the men's 800m a week after a 1,000m world record in Monaco. Julien Alfred meets Gabby Thomas, Dina Asher-Smith, Amy Hunt and Success Eduan over 200m. Oblique Seville headlines the men's 100m against Letsile Tebogo and Britain's Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu and Romell Glave.