The 15-year-old sprinter has captured world consideration since working world bests over 60m and 100m
Divine Iheme is a reputation it would be best to keep in mind. The Oxfordshire-based sprinter has just lately written his title into the historical past books because the quickest 15-year-old ever over 60m, breaking the long-standing file of 6.74 set by J-Mee Samuels again in 2003. Not solely did Iheme break the file as soon as, however he did it twice, working instances of 6.71 and 6.72 on the Lee Valley BFTTA Indoor Collection in January.
This now locations the athlete who’s also called “Lightning Divine” fourth on the UK’s all-time 60m U18 rankings record, trailing solely 0.02 behind the 6.69 mark set by Mark Lewis-Francis in 1999.
However this isn’t Iheme’s first brush with greatness. Final summer time, he already captured world consideration when he ran a world age 14 better of 10.30 over 100m while being cheered on by his coach and mom.
Athletics clearly runs within the household’s blood as each of his dad and mom – father Harmless and mom Nkiruku – represented Nigeria on the 2002 Commonwealth Video games in Manchester. These are nonetheless early days, in fact, however the teenager’s future is wanting vibrant.
Divine Iheme (Pat Isaacs)
How did you get into athletics?
I first began working throughout major college on sports activities day. I carried out rather well and I used to be overwhelmed by successful so many races time and again. Clearly my mum and pa each competed in observe at such a excessive degree in order that they influenced me to take it up from that day.
I might at all times do the 100m and 200m and I knew immediately that I appreciated these occasions and wished to stay to them. I began working the 600m, too, however I realised it wasn’t my robust level in order that’s how I came upon that sprinting was greatest for me.
How did it really feel to run the world age 15 greatest over 60m?
It felt superb as a result of now I can maintain two titles to my title, however I’m additionally conscious that I don’t need to let it get to my head. It took me some time to grasp that I had damaged the file as a result of I believed the file was 6.69 beforehand, I didn’t know that it was 6.74 as a substitute. So, even after I beat it within the first spherical I believed I nonetheless had a bit extra to go to beat it. However then after the race I noticed an Instagram put up saying that I had run the world file and that was the primary I knew about it – I used to be so excited.
What’s your largest achievement up to now?
Positively the 100m world file as a result of it was my first one, so it was much more particular. I keep in mind, on the day, the board exhibiting the instances was delayed and it took ages for anyone’s quantity to point out up. I used to be simply ready, my coronary heart was racing after which I noticed 10.30 pop up and I began leaping and screaming and everybody round me was cheering. I’ll always remember it.
I really knew I might run that quick as a result of in my earlier race I had run a ten.45 with +2.2 wind, so I knew that if I can run that quick with further wind, then I might do it with out it. I put my religion in God and it labored.
Divine Iheme (Pat Isaacs)
Do you are feeling any strain now you maintain these data?
I don’t really feel a lot strain when it comes all the way down to the 100m and 60m as a result of I do know I’m stronger in these than the 200m and I can carry out significantly better. Once I see my title getting a lot media consideration it makes me really feel actually good as a result of I do know that I’ve labored so onerous for it and I’m glad that it’s all paying off for me and my household.
What’s it like being coached by your mum?
It’s really actually robust as a result of she is my coach on the finish of the day and I can’t skip any periods. After we are on the observe, there isn’t a mercy it doesn’t matter what as a result of she desires to see me carry out at my greatest and he or she is aware of what I’m able to. It’s actually robust however that makes it actually good as a result of it provides me the motivation I have to maintain going and to run sooner.
Divine Iheme (England Athletics/Pat Scaasi)
Which athletes do you look as much as?
I’ve at all times seemed as much as Usain Bolt. I at all times look again and watch all of his previous races, particularly when he’s working within the relays as a result of I really like relays a lot.
As for athletes who’re nonetheless racing, I must say [Olympic 200m champion] Letsile Tebogo. He’s somebody I actually look as much as and really feel impressed by. He’s clearly actually quick however he’s humble, too. He is aware of when to speak and when to not and he at all times is aware of when to do the fitting factor. I watched him on the Olympics and he’s positively certainly one of my favorite athletes.
What are your subsequent objectives?
Within the 100m I’m hoping to interrupt the age 15 world file so I can maintain each the age 14 and 15 data on the identical time. Within the 200m I’m aiming to run a sub-21 this season.
I do know to at all times maintain working onerous it doesn’t matter what, as a result of you possibly can’t obtain something with out working onerous.
This characteristic first appeared within the March concern of AW journal.