NZ’s fastest men
When speed runs in the mily
Edward Osei-Nketia believes it is now just a matter of time before he breaks his father’s 100m record and becomes New Zealand’s fastest man of all-time.
The 19-year-old sprint sensation produced the run of his life at last weekend’s Queensland Track Classic to clock a huge new personal best of 10.12 seconds to move within just 0.01 sec of Gus Nketia’s record set at the Commonwealth Games in 1994.
‘‘He kept saying his record is too old and he just wants someone to break it already,’’ Osei-Nketia said.
The Auckland-born OseiNketia has been chasing his father’s record ever since he laced up the spikes but admitted there have been many times over the past two years when he doubted his ability to improve his previous personal best of 10.19 set in 2019.
‘‘There were times where I thought I wouldn’t be able to run faster than 10.19 even though my coach said I would be able to.
‘‘I just didn’t have enough faith in myself. I didn’t think I was going to get it. The way things were going, it was cold and the conditions meant I was not able to perform.
‘‘I didn’t even think I was going to get top three [in Queensland] but I’ve been working on my core things and boom – 10.12.’’
Osei-Nketia was relieved to have bettered his personal best by 0.07 seconds but felt there was plenty of room for improvement after tightening up in the final 15 metres, giving him newfound belief that he can overtake his dad.
‘‘It gives me confidence. It’s just all about patience and grinding hard and focussing on what I need to do to get there.
‘‘When I was nine or 10 I found out my dad was the record holder, and I was very inspired. I knew I had to get that record one day and I kept working hard, and last weekend I was almost there.
‘‘Maybe I could’ve been bragging to my dad that I’ve got his record if I didn’t dip on the line.’’
Osei-Nketia finished second behind Rohan Browning at the Queensland Track Classic after Browning clocked a career-best 10.05 to clinch the automatic qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics. The former Scots College student said the hotter conditions and increased competition in Australia were the catalysts for his improved performance, which would have seen him reach the semifinals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
‘‘First of all, I’ve gotta give all praise to Rohan. He’s a competitor and I’m inspired by the way he runs and takes his training seriously.’’
By posting a time of 10.12 seconds, OseiNketia surged ahead of Chris Donaldson (10.17) and Joseph Millar (10.18) to move up to second on New Zealand’s all-time rankings list for the men’s 100m sprint.
He said it was ‘‘crazy’’ to think that him and his dad were now ranked number one and two in the country.
‘‘When I look at the history behind the athletics, I can’t believe it goes my dad, then me. It’s crazy, man.’’
Osei-Nketia will get another shot at the New Zealand record, as well as the Olympic qualifying standard of 10.05, when he competes at the Australian track and field championships in Sydney on April 16-17.
‘‘I’m going to be training hard for the next two weeks so hopefully the conditions will be right in Sydney and I’ll be ready to get that record once and for all.
‘‘I want to try and head to Tokyo and I want to get my dad’s record. That would be a big success for me.’’
Osei-Nketia would become just the seventh New Zealander to compete in the men’s 100m at the Olympics if he was to qualify for Tokyo 2021.
‘‘I can’t believe it goes my dad, then me. It’s crazy, man.’’ Edward Osei-Nketia, above, on sharing NZ’s best two 100m times with his father Gus, below