Canada’s Sawyer Nicholson, 11, breaks world age-group record at Niagara Falls 5K

Eleven-year-old running phenom Sawyer Nicholson of Stouffville, Ont., broke the world age-group 5K record at the Niagara Falls International Marathon’s 5K on Sunday with a blistering performance that also saw her finish first overall.

Nicholson shaved nearly half a minute off her personal best in Sunday’s race, finishing in an astounding 17:28.1—more than 80 seconds faster than men’s race winner Mike Gigliotti, who ran 18:49.7 to finish second overall.

Her time was 0.2 seconds quicker than what had been the fastest road 5K ever run by an 11-year-old female. That record, set by Grace Ping of Winona, Minn., had stood since 2015. Nicholson’s new PB is also more than 13 seconds faster than the world age-group 5K track record set by Australia’s Mia Guillergan three years ago (17:41.03).

“This is crazy,” an excited Nicholson told Canadian Running on Monday upon learning that she had secured the world age-group record. “A while ago, I had thought about if I could break 18 minutes, but I never thought about a world record. It’s crazy!”

Despite being “pretty tired” on race day after not getting much sleep, Nicholson said she felt strong during the run and that she was happy race conditions co-operated. “It was pretty windy on the way back, and there was a little bit of rain by the falls, but overall it was pretty good.”

But she added a positive mindset may have been the most important ingredient in her record-breaking run. “I would say just do your best and take it easy,” she replied when asked her secret for running a strong 5K. “Just focus on yourself and don’t worry about what other people are doing. And always believe in yourself and believe that you can do anything! Nothing is impossible.”

With a small frame that belies her incredible speed, Nicholson has been making a big impression in her short time on the race circuit. In September 2022, at her first-ever road race, Nicholson ran Toronto’s Oasis Zoo Run in 19:25 to top the women’s podium. The following month, she broke the 19-minute barrier for the first time, snapping the tape in the 2022 Niagara Falls International Marathon 5K in 18:55 to finish first in the women’s race and third overall.

Earlier this month she ran 17:56 to take first place at the Puma Toronto Women’s 5K at Sunnybrook Park. She followed that up by running 17:59 for sixth place in the women’s division at the TCS Toronto Waterfront 5K.

Nicholson isn’t about to slow down, either. On Tuesday she’ll be competing at her school’s regional cross-country race. With her track club, the Durham Dragons, she’ll be racing at the MTA Provincial Championships on Oct. 28, and at the Athletics Ontario Provincial Championships on Nov. 12. She’ll also compete at the Endorphin Elite 5K road race in Hamilton, Ont., on Nov. 4.

Full results from this year’s Niagara Falls International Marathon are available here.