Emsley Carr Mile line-up for Anniversary Games confirmed

The competitive field will not only include nine British runners for the London Stadium crowd to get behind but will also feature a host of global stars. 

On the bill are 1500m indoor world record holder Samuel Tefera (ETH), London 2017 bronze medallist Filip Ingebrigsten (NOR), double Olympic medallist Nick Willis (NZL) and European and Commonwealth bronze medallist Jake Wightman (GBR).

The iconic race, which was inaugurated in the memory of former News of the World editor Sir Emsley Carr, was last won by a British athlete in 2017 when Wightman claimed the title with a time of 3:54.92.

Wightman, 24, who won both European and Commonwealth 1500m bronze last year, has been confirmed as one of the leading Brits in the field for the Mile at this year’s Anniversary Games.

The Edinburgh AC athlete said: "I know that my big night in London comes in a couple of weeks’ time when I’ll race in at the Müller Anniversary Games in The Emsley Carr Mile.

"I was buzzing to win the event in 2017 and it had real significance in my confidence and development the following year.

"On top of that, I know from experience that the support I will receive at the London Stadium is like nothing else, so I’m sure it make all the difference as I take on a world class field."

IAAF President and previous winner of The Emsley Carr Mile, Lord Sebastian Coe said: “I have fond memories of running in and watching The Emsley Carr Mile.

"In fact winning it in 1977, beating Filbert Bayi of Tanzania put me on the back pages of the UK national newspapers for the first time. 

"It is one of those must-not-miss running events that attracts audiences from across the world.

“Previous editions of The Emsley Carr Mile have seen some of the biggest names in global athletics compete – and claim the title – and this year looks set to continue that trend as the world’s most iconic middle-distance race comes to the London Stadium.”

Founded in 1953, The Emsley Carr Mile is one of the most famous races in the history of athletics with some of the world’s leading runners claiming the title including Lord Coe, Steve Ovett , Haile Gebrselassie, Hicham El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat.