Filipino-Australian athlete Mia Guillergan has erased the 1977 world age record in the 5-kilometer-run for 11 year-olds.
The young athlete, whose mother is an Ilongga, ran against adults twice her size in the competition held in Manly Warringah Little Athletics meet in New South Wales, Australia on September 26, 2020.
Guillergan clocked an impressive 17 minutes and 41.03 seconds – the run that beats the 17 minutes 59 seconds world record of American Kathy Kieman in 1977.
The 11-year-old runner has sprinted her way to history as her recent feat will be marked in the world age grade record as the fastest 11-year-old who has run 5-kilometers in almost 18 minutes.
Guillergan had earlier broken a 19-year-old record on September 18, in the U12G 1500m with 4:57.45, beating the old record of 4:59.50.
“I like to push myself so then I can perform the best… You really need to have a strong mindset to be able to achieve your goal, ” said Mia in an interview after setting the world record.
The world age record holder aims to compete at the Olympics one day, backed up by her coach’s confidence by saying that it’s “perfectly achievable.”
Jack McPhee – Mia’s coach said that with the athlete’s determination, dedication, and skills, she can definitely run her way to the Olympics.
Guillergan’s world record is also notably faster than the bronze-medal performance of the Philippines’ bet Joida Gagnao with a 17:52.16 record at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The Fil-Australian runner came from a family of athletes. Her paternal grandfather – Robert Guillergan represented the Philippines in the 4x400m relay at the 1962 Asian Games.
More Filipino athletes are championing Pinoy pride in the world of athletics.
Rodolfo Reyes Jr. snagged the gold medal at the Lents Taekwondo Worldwide Online Poomsae while James De Los Santos reaped two more golds in virtual karate.
Champion pole vaulter Ej Obiena wrapped up the season with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals as he competed with Olympians.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Filipino-Australian athlete Mia Guillergan for erasing the 1977 world record in 5km run for 11 yr-olds.
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