While no world records fell during yesterday’s main program of the Diamond League Final in Zurich, a 12-year-old Swiss runner stole the spotlight in the pre-meet U16 one-kilometre race.
Luc Som of Gossau, Switzerland, dominated the field, winning the U16 1,000m in 2:24.28, four seconds clear of second place, who was three years older.
Photo: World Athletics
Not only did Som smash the world record for his own age group, but his time also set a new U16 world record, beating the previous mark of 2:25.77 set by Australia’s Hayden Todd in 2020. Todd was 15 when he ran that time; Som only turned 12 this past April.
To put his performance in perspective, Som’s run is worth 975 World Athletics points, which is roughly equivalent to a 1:52 800m or a 4:10 mile. That’s a ridiculous time for an athlete who hasn’t even reached high school.
Luc Som (middle) runs for LAG Gossau athletic club in Gossau, Switzerland. Photo: LAG Gossau
This isn’t Som’s first time racing at Weltklasse Zurich. Last year, as an 11-year-old, he placed third in the same U16 event, competing against athletes five years older. He already owns the LAG Gossau club record for 1,000m—a record that looks unlikely to be broken by anyone else anytime soon.
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