The 15-year-old sprinter has captured international consideration since operating world bests over 60m and 100m
Divine Iheme is a reputation you’ll want to bear in mind. The Oxfordshire-based sprinter has not too long ago written his title into the historical past books because the quickest 15-year-old ever over 60m, breaking the long-standing report of 6.74 set by J-Mee Samuels again in 2003. Not solely did Iheme break the report as soon as, however he did it twice, operating instances of 6.71 and 6.72 on the Lee Valley BFTTA Indoor Sequence in January.
This now locations the athlete who’s often known as “Lightning Divine” fourth on the UK’s all-time 60m U18 rankings listing, 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 season, he already captured international 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 mother and father – 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 trying brilliant.
Divine Iheme (Pat Isaacs)
How did you get into athletics?
I first began operating throughout major faculty on sports activities day. I carried out very well and I used to be overwhelmed by profitable so many races many times. Clearly my mum and pa each competed in monitor at such a excessive stage in order that they influenced me to take it up from that day.
I’d all the time do the 100m and 200m and I knew immediately that I appreciated these occasions and needed to stay to them. I began operating the 600m, too, however I realised it wasn’t my sturdy level in order that’s how I came upon that sprinting was finest for me.
How did it really feel to run the world age 15 finest over 60m?
It felt wonderful 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 understand that I had damaged the report as a result of I believed the report was 6.69 beforehand, I didn’t know that it was 6.74 as an alternative. 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 report and that was the primary I knew about it – I used to be so excited.
What’s your largest achievement thus far?
Positively the 100m world report as a result of it was my first one, so it was much more particular. I bear in mind, on the day, the board exhibiting the instances was delayed and it took ages for anyone’s quantity to indicate 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 truly knew I may 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 additional wind, then I may do it with out it. I put my religion in God and it labored.
Divine Iheme (Pat Isaacs)
Do you are feeling any stress now you maintain these data?
I don’t really feel a lot stress when it comes right 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 laborious 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 truly actually powerful as a result of she is my coach on the finish of the day and I can’t skip any periods. Once we are on the monitor, there is no such thing as a mercy it doesn’t matter what as a result of she desires to see me carry out at my finest and she or he is aware of what I’m able to. It’s actually powerful however that makes it actually good as a result of it provides me the motivation I have to preserve going and to run quicker.
Divine Iheme (England Athletics/Pat Scaasi)
Which athletes do you look as much as?
I’ve all the time appeared as much as Usain Bolt. I all the time look again and watch all of his outdated races, particularly when he’s operating within the relays as a result of I 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 all the time is aware of when to do the correct factor. I watched him on the Olympics and he’s positively one among my favorite athletes.
What are your subsequent objectives?
Within the 100m I hope to interrupt the age 15 world report 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 all the time preserve working laborious it doesn’t matter what, as a result of you’ll be able to’t obtain something with out working laborious.
This characteristic first appeared within the March concern of AW journal.