This is the distance every runner knows. Before a 10km, marathon, or even 100-mile ultramarathon, many of us test ourselves at the most coveted distance in running: the mile.
British sprinter Josh Kerr rewrote history in front of more than 55,000 fans at the London Stadium on Saturday. He ran 3:42.66, breaking Moroccan sprinter Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old world record of 3:43.13 set in 1999. This performance reduced one of the game’s oldest and most untouched scores by almost half a second.
1-mile vidya
The mile holds a unique place in track and field. It is one of the few major events still contested in the imperial system rather than metric, with most elite track meets more often using 1,500 meters as their “mile-like” distance.
But no distance captures the imagination of runners like the mile.
After Roger Bannister became the first man to break the 4-minute record in 1954, the world record changed regularly for decades. Bannister’s mark lasted only 46 days before John Landy lowered it to 3:58.0, and in the years that followed, the record fell on average every t3 years.
This was followed by El Guerrouj’s 3:43.13. Through the rise of carbon-plated shoes, revolutionary midsole foams, advances in sports science like sodium bicarbonate, and even a new era of sub-2 hour marathon performances, the men’s mile world record remained unchanged.
So what changed?
Few elite athletes call their shots like Kerr; He put all the pressure, expectations, critics and doubt squarely on his own (and sponsor Brooks’s) back. His intention was to become the fastest bomber in history. The other part was under his feet.
In short: Brooks spent more than a year developing a shoe specifically for Kerr’s biomechanics. The result is the Brooks Hyperion 222, a custom-built racing spike designed with a priority for its stride, foot strike, asymmetric push-off, and exceptionally aggressive ride.
brooks hyperion 222:the shoe that broke the mile record
Despite being created specifically for Kerr, the Hyperion 222 still had to meet World Athletics regulations, which required competitive shoes to be commercially available. You can see the prototype Brooks presented to World Athletics”Shoe Checker” database here.
This means the technology that drove the fastest miles in history won’t remain a one-off prototype for long; The Hyperion 222 is expected to reach consumers in the near future (mile world records are not guaranteed).
Running footwear has changed dramatically since El Guerrouj set his record in 1999. The spikes he wore are from another era entirely. A perfect relic.
The Hyperion 222 represents the latest generation of computationally designed racing footwear, created using engineering tools that did not exist in running a generation ago.
Much like Nike’s massive effort to help Faith Kipyegon become the first woman to break 4 minutes for the mile last summer (we wrote about it here), Brooks assembled her own team of engineers and biomechanists to chase history.
The company says it relied on its Run Research Lab and finite element analysis – a computer modeling technique that predicts how materials flex, deform and move under load – to optimize every aspect of the Spike. Engineers simulated countless carbon-fiber plate configurations before arriving at the final design.
The name itself reflects the goal. The Hyperion 222 refers to the 222 seconds required to run a 3:42 mile.
a purpose built shoe
Brooks built the Hyperion 222 optimized for Kerr’s specific stride, power output and foot strike, and the most notable feature is the aggressive rocker geometry of the spike. Unlike almost every racing shoe these days, from 5K to marathon, the curved profile of the hyper-rockered Hyperion 222 is designed to help Kerr transition through each step while maintaining forward motion at record speed.
A carbon plate is wrapped around the foot to provide stability and stiffness consistent with Kerr’s unique powerful mechanics, including their unique push-off pattern and ability to generate tremendous force at top speed, while traditional heel cushioning is left behind in favor of maximum stiffness and responsiveness.
Even the “spike” component was reimagined. The Hyperion 222 uses custom titanium pins developed specifically for Kerr’s record attempt, components that Brooks says could not be purchased off the shelf. The Hyperion 222 featured unique branding with Kerr’s signature, custom illustration and “The Pursuit” mantra printed on the insole.
brooks speed suit
Kerr’s race-day kit included a custom two-fabric speed suit that balanced aerodynamic efficiency with heat management for a potentially warm or even hot weather mile effort. Its laser-cut perforations were designed to release heat and moisture while increasing mobility in the lower half.
Fabric on the back and side panels provided targeted ventilation, while perforated stretch fabric on the front and lower halves provided structure and breathability to support dynamic movement without compromising comfort.
Despite all efforts to make the Brooks Speed Suit highly breathable, fortunately, Europe’s recent Heat Dome was not successful in London on Saturday, and actual race conditions were about 73-75 degrees Fahrenheit with cloud cover and a very cool breeze.
The suit was prototyped and tested at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet in the scorching heat of Albuquerque, NM, where Kerr lives and trains full-time.
Brooks competes with the best
Brooks has long been known as a friendly, do-it-all brand. The Ghost, now in its 18th edition, is probably the most recognizable running shoe in the world and a staple for everyday runners logging millions of miles. But beneath that approachable exterior, Brooks is quietly building a seriously elite-performance program.
The Brooks Beasts training group features some of the best middle-distance runners in the world, including Kerr and Brandon Miller, the world’s top 800m runner this season, while the brand also sponsors the best American female half-marathon runner Jess McClain.
Josh Kerr’s world record represents something bigger for Brooks: it’s proof that the company’s top-level racing technology is on the same level as any high-performance brand in the world.
Every major footwear company saw a record drop of miles, but Kerr had only the Brooks logo on his feet. It’s an undeniable win for Kerr and a significant moment for the Seattle-based brand.
