British athletes Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr are set to challenge world records at the Diamond League meeting in London, with a capacity crowd expected.
New Delhi, India Jul 16, 2026 ALN: British stars Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr will attempt to break world records at the Diamond League meeting at London Stadium on Saturday.
With hopes of a capacity 60,000 crowd roaring her on, Olympic champion Hodgkinson will bid to break the longest-standing individual track world record when she lines up in the women's 800m at 15:51 BST.
Kerr, the 2023 world 1500m champion, is aiming to add his name to the stellar list of British men to have held the world record for the mile (15:36 BST).
Among other British stars in action are Zharnel Hughes in the men's 100m, Amy Hunt, Dina Asher-Smith, and Success Eduan in the women's 200m, Matthew Hudson-Smith in the men's 400m, and Max Burgin and Ben Pattison in the men's 800m.
Global stars to watch include pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who will compete in the men's 800m one week after breaking the 1,000m world record in Monaco.
Women's 100m Olympic champion Julien Alfred and men's 100m world champion Oblique Seville will also be there.
You can watch live coverage of the London Meet on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 13:00 BST, while there will be live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC website and app.
Hodgkinson, 24, has had a frustrating outdoor season and has yet to win a Diamond League race this year, despite improving her own British record. Her journey has been marked by a series of ups and downs, showcasing the unpredictable nature of elite .
After breaking the 24-year-old world indoor record in Lievin in February, Hodgkinson captured her first world indoor title in commanding fashion in March, leading to high expectations for her outdoor season. Those successes raised hopes that Hodgkinson would be able to break Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova's record time of one minute and 53.28 seconds, set in Munich in 1983. This record has stood the test of time, making it one of the most coveted achievements in middle-distance running.
The Briton improved her national record to 1:54.33 in Stockholm in early June, but suffered a shock defeat by Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who ran the third fastest 800m in history to win the race. This unexpected loss was a turning point for Hodgkinson, highlighting the fierce competition in women's middle-distance running.
Two weeks later, Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Championships in tears after feeling "a little twinge" moments before the race. Injuries can be a significant hurdle for athletes, and this incident underlined the physical and mental challenges they face. After Werro improved her best time to 1:53.80 in Paris, Hodgkinson looked to kick-start her season at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene.
However, competing with both knees strapped after a heavy fall in training, she finished in second place behind world champion Lilian Odira. This performance was a testament to her resilience, as she pushed through pain to compete at a high level. Hopefully, Hodgkinson is now fully fit and able to go all out to attack the world record in London.
She will face tough competition in Ethiopia's Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol, who has made rapid strides since moving up from 400m to 800m this season and recorded a time of 1:55.60 in Paris. The presence of such formidable opponents adds to the excitement surrounding the event, as each athlete brings their unique strengths and strategies to the race.
However, training partner and world silver medallist Georgia Hunter Bell has pulled out of the meet because of a heavy cold, which is a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change for athletes. Rising British star Phoebe Gill, who reached the Olympic semi-finals in Paris aged 17, will make her Diamond League debut having battled back from an injury that ruled her out of the 2025 outdoor season. Gill's comeback is inspiring, demonstrating the perseverance required to return to elite competition.
Hicham El Guerrouj's world record for the men's mile of three minutes 43.13 seconds has stood since 1999, a remarkable feat that has made it a long-standing target for many athletes. British record holder Kerr, the Olympic 1500m silver medallist, set his personal best of 3:45.34 in 2024, showcasing his potential to challenge for the world record.
The 28-year-old is sixth on the all-time list and races Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse of the United States - the fourth fastest miler in history - on Saturday. The matchup between these two athletes is particularly intriguing, as both are capable of pushing each other to new heights. Kerr, who won world indoor 3,000m gold in Poland earlier this year, will be paced by his training partner Brannon Kidder and will have fellow Scot Neil Gourley alongside him.
"It's been a huge goal of my career. It's one of the oldest world records on the track and I think it's one of the most important ones," Kerr told BBC in March. His determination to break this record reflects a deep respect for the history of the and the legacy of British middle-distance running.
"It was a non-negotiable to do it in the UK. I think that's massively special. It's time to bring the mile world record home." Kerr's passion for the and his commitment to achieving this goal resonate with many fans and aspiring athletes.
"We have an amazing history of milers in this country and it's important to go after these records when you're capable." Kerr's words highlight the significance of national pride in , especially in a country with a rich tradition of middle-distance running, including legends like Sir Roger Bannister and Sebastian Coe.
Olympic silver medallist Alfred comes into the meeting in blistering form having set the third-fastest women's 200m time in history of 21.51 seconds in Monaco last weekend. This performance has set the stage for an exciting showdown, as Alfred will take on American Gabby Thomas, who denied her a sprint double at the Paris Olympics. The rivalry between these two athletes adds an extra layer of intrigue to the race.
Alfred will also compete against British stars Asher-Smith, Hunt, and new national champion Eduan over 200m at 15:15. Each of these athletes brings a unique competitive spirit, making the race highly anticipated among fans and commentators alike.
In the men's 100m at 15:04, world champion Seville of Jamaica faces Botswana's Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, American world indoor champion Jordan Anthony, and the British trio of Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu, and Romell Glave. The depth of talent in this event promises thrilling races, with each athlete eager to demonstrate their speed and skill.
Live coverage on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and online via the live text commentary page starts at 13:00 BST. The accessibility of the event through various platforms allows fans to engage with the action, fostering a deeper connection to the .
All times BST and subject to late changes.
12:36 - 100m men's ambulant
12:44 - 1500m men's ambulant
12:58 - 100m women's ambulant
13:04 - women's discus throw
13:07 - 1500m men's wheelchair
13:16 - 800m men's national
13:25 - 400m women's national
13:30 - men's pole vault
13:37 - 4x100m men's relay
13:46 - 4x100m women's relay
13:51 - women's discus throw final
14:03 - 400m men's hurdles
14:10 - women's high jump
14:14 - 400m women
14:25 - 800m men
14:35 - 3,000m women
14:49 - women's long jump
14:53 - 110m men's hurdles
15:04 - 100m men
15:15 - 200m women
15:26 - 400m men
15:36 - Emsley Carr Mile
15:51 - 800m women
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