9-year-old breaks parkrun world record for age
Louis Robinett said he felt "on top of the world" after finishing the 5K event in Poole, England in 17:40
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Poole Runners
A nine-year-old boy has smashed the parkrun world record for his age by finishing the 5K event in his hometown of Poole, England in 17:40.
Last Saturday’s feat by speedy fifth-grader Louis Robinett sliced 13 seconds off the previous record set in California six years ago.
Under parkrun’s age-grading scheme, intended to allow athletes of different ages and sexes to compare their performances to one another, Robinett scored a 92.55 per cent age-graded score with his record-breaking run, placing him in parkrun’s World Class Level category.
“I’m on top of the the world right now! It’s a huge deal to break the world record,” Robinett told BBC News. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and the team at Poole Runners.”
Robinett, a member of the Poole Runners Juniors, was paced in his effort by fellow club member Dion Garner, who wrote on Instagram that it was a “pleasure” to support Robinett in a run Garner called “a potential world record for the fastest 5k completed by a 9 year old!”
“His natural talent, combined with his dedication and spirit, is mind-blowing,” Garner told BBC News. “He’s not just a star in the making—he’s a star right now.”
The Poole Runners said, “With his new world record, Louis has raised the bar for your athletes everywhere. This isn’t just a win for Louis, it’s a new benchmark for your sports, inspiring children all over the world to aim higher.”
Launched in the U.K. in 2004, parkruns are free, weekly community events, now with more than 2,000 hosted in more than 20 countries including Canada. All parkruns are 5K events held Saturday mornings in parks and open spaces.
In July, Scottish Olympian Andy Butchart ran the fastest parkrun on record in his event debut, clocking 13:45 to beat the previous overall parkrun record held by British Olympian Andy Baddeley by three seconds.
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