Nine-Year-Old Prodigy Smashes Parkrun Record in London
A nine-year-old girl from London has stunned the running community by setting what is believed to be a new British record—and possibly a world record—for her age group after completing a 5K parkrun in under 20 minutes. Lily Janmohamed, a Year 5 pupil from Stanmore in Harrow, achieved an astonishing time of 19 minutes and 45 seconds at the Battersea parkrun last Saturday, March 7.
Record-Breaking Performance at Battersea Parkrun
Lily's remarkable feat saw her cross the finish line with a pace of 3 minutes and 58 seconds per kilometre, guided by family friend Julia Bijl, who helped set the target speed. This performance not only broke the previous British record for a nine-year-old girl but also has her father, Faizal Janmohamed, claiming it could be a world record on road for her age category. Lily had previously made headlines at age eight with a time of 20 minutes and 16 seconds, beating a record that had stood for a decade.
Lily expressed her joy, saying, “I wasn’t even thinking about breaking a record. I just wanted to run a good race and see what time I could do. I’m over the moon with my time and to get another record. Running makes me feel so free and strong, like I can do anything.”
Family Pride and Future Ambitions
Faizal Janmohamed, 41, who works in marketing, shared his immense pride in his daughter, who runs three times a week and aspires to be a professional runner. “Her mum and I are incredibly proud of her. The way she combines her natural ability with her determination and love for running is amazing to see,” he said. Despite focusing on track and cross country seasons recently, with only a handful of 5K runs to maintain fitness, Lily's latest achievement came as a pleasant surprise to her family.
Julia Bijl, who paced Lily during the run, believes the young athlete has even more potential. “Lily was incredible out there. She’s in great shape and I honestly think she can go even faster. I absolutely love helping Lily. She gets so much enjoyment out of running and it’s brilliant to see,” Julia remarked.
Guinness World Records and Mini Marathon Dreams
While Guinness World Records acknowledged the impressive time, they noted that they do not track records in this specific category, so they cannot confirm if a world record was set. However, Lily's primary goal was not to break records but to qualify for her dream event: the London Mini Marathon. She aims to run for the borough of Barnet in the Under 12 category, which requires submitting her fastest 5K parkrun time by March 15.
Lily added, “My dream is to run in the London Mini Marathon, so I really wanted to try and run a fast time. I’m going to keep training hard and keep believing in myself, just like everyone believes in me.”
London's Fastest Parkruns: A Competitive Landscape
The Battersea parkrun, where Lily set her record, is renowned as one of the fastest in London and the UK, with an SSS score of 1.2 indicating a relatively easy course. Tim Grose, a curator of UK parkrun rankings, has described it as one of the most competitive runs in the country. Other notable fast parkruns in London include:
- Bromley parkrun: Ranked fifth in the UK, also with an SSS score of 1.2, offering a faster route in winter due to its all-tarmac course.
- Dulwich parkrun: Placed twelfth in the UK with an SSS score of 1.3, known for being flat and fast.
- Bushy Park: The original parkrun location, founded in 2004, holds historical significance in the running community.
London parkruns start at 9:00 AM every Saturday, and participants must register at parkrun.org.uk and bring a personal barcode for timed results. This vibrant running scene continues to foster talent like Lily, showcasing the city's commitment to youth sports and athletic excellence.
