Who Are the Fastest Boys in the World?

Apart from the medals won, there has to be a certain standard or reference whereby people can easily determine how good (or bad) you are.

For example, the current standard for the men's 100m to be in the 2020 Olympic Games is 10.05, and to be a Top 100 of the World at present, you must run at least 10.15, and 10.25 for Top 200.

This can be clearly determined in track and field events, especially for senior levels. This is however difficult for the younger age-group performance - lack of info out there.

The current world absolute age-13 best of 10.85 is held by Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago. Brown achieved his lifetime best 8 years later in 9.99, almost a full second difference. Australian James Gallaugher holds the world age-13 best for the 200m in 21.73.

The world age-14 best is held by Jamaica's Sachin Dennis with a time of 10.51. Darrel Brown held the world age-14 best for 200m (21.20) for almost 2 decades, before it was broken by Dennis (20.89) in 2017. Malaysia's Muhammad Azeem Fahmi (14 years and 360 days) came very near to the mark set by Brown when he ran 21.24 earlier this week during the Malaysian schools meeting at Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia.

Sachin Dennis(Jamaica), Azeem Fahmi (Malaysia), and Wei Hao Lun (Chinese Taipei) are among the young athletes who achieved supreme performance at young ages

Sachin Dennis also holds the world age-15 best in the 100m in 10.20. About a year ago, American Anthony Schwartz sets world age-16 best of 10.15.

The big man Usain Bolt holds the world age-15 best in the 200m in 20.58. He also holds the world age-16 best in 20.13 that is also the official world U18 record as accepted by the governing body, while Japan's Yoshihide Kiryu holds 100m record for world U18 in 10.01.

Azeem Fahmi runs 10.63 to win class 2 (under 15) in Malaysian schools championship

The American record for boys 13-14 age-group (under 15) is held by Bryce Love in a time of 10.73 while the 200m is 21.77 by Ashton Allen.

Of interest, I have compiled a series of annual age-group top lists for the male under 16 for the 100m and 200m to identify what is required to be the best in the world for this particular age-group (under 16) and events.

The term age-group needs to be understood carefully as it can be absolute or relative. Age-group in athletics refers to the standard set by the governing body for athletics, as stated in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) competition rules, that is "XX" years old on 31 December in the year of the competition (i.e. relative age).

The holders of world age-group best above are based on absolute age (i.e. actual age). However, I have compiled the top lists based on the IAAF standard for competitions and records.

The fastest boys in the world from 2016 to 2019 (relative age; age at 31 December of Year) are as listed:

2016 - World Under 16
100m
10.59 ... Dominik Illovszky (HUN) born. 4 Jan 2002 (14y)
10.68 ... Khafre Brown (USA) born. 29 May 2001 (15y)
10.68 ... Justin Tsukamoto (JPN) born. 22 Mar 2001 (15y)
10.71 ... Javon Williams (TTO) born. 2001 (15y)
10.75 ... Edward Osei Nketia (NZL) born, 8 May 2011 (15y)

200m
21.32 ... Khafre Brown (USA) born. 29 May 2001 (15y)
21.70 ... Roshaun Rowe (JAM) born. 23 September 2002 (14y)
21.70 ... Jayson Weber (RSA) born. 1 Jan 2001 (15y)
21.71 ... Andrew Brown (USA) born. 2003 (13y)
21.77 ... Ashton Allen (USA) born. 25 Mar 2002 (14y)

2017 - World Under 16
100m
10.51 ... Sachin Dennis (JAM) born. 2 August 2002 (15y)
10.71 ... Avindale Smith (TTO) born. 23 January 2002 (15y)
10.71 ... Darian Clarke (BAR) born. 5 March 2002 (15y)
10.73 ... Raphael Bouju (NED) born.  15 May 2002 (15y)
10.77 ... Enrico Sancin (ITA) born. 5 March 2002 (15y)

200m
20.89 ... Sachin Dennis (JAM) born. 2 August 2002 (15y)
21.23 ... Ashton Allen (USA) born. 25 March 2002 (15y)
21.24 ... Avindale Smith (TTO) born. 23 January 2002 (15y)
21.29 ... Marcellus Moore (USA) born. 30 Jun 2002 (15y)
21.44 ... Darian Clarke (BAR) born. 5 March 2002 (15y)
21.45 ... Sasha Zhoya (FRA) born. 25 June 2002 (15y)
21.52 ... Dominic Ogbechie (GBR) born. 15 May 2002 (15y)

2018 - World Under 16
100m
10.37 ... Terrique Stennett (JAM) born 3 January 2003 (15y)
10.68 ... Brune Godson (NGR) born. 2003 (15y)
10.72 ... Alexander  Nunley (USA) born. 9 September 2003 (15y)
10.78 ... Muhammad Azeem Fahmi (MAS) born 29 April 2004 (14y)
10.81 ... Adrian Kerr (JAM) born. 2003 (15y)

200m
21.69 ... Adrian Kerr (JAM) born. 2003 (15y)
21.74 ... Bouwahghi Nkrumie (JAM) born. 16 February 2004 (14y)
21.78 ... Shakeem McKay (TT0) born. 2003 (15y)
21.89 ... Muhammad Azeem Fahmi (MAS) born. 29 April 2004 (14y)

2019 - World Under 16*
100m
10.54 ... Bouwahghi Nkrumie (JAM) born. 16 February 2004 (15y)
10.63 ... Muhammad Azeem Fahmi (MAS) born. 29 April 2004 (15y)
10.69 ... Christopher Scott (JAM) born. 2004 (15y)
10.70 ... Wei Hao Lun (TPE) born. 2004

200m
21.24 ... Muhammad Azeem Fahmi (MAS) born. 29 April 2004 (15y)
21.56 ... Wei Hao Lun (TPE) born. 2004
21.70 ... Christopher Scott (JAM) born. 2004
21.77 ... Alicke Cranston (JAM) born. 6 May 2004 (15y)
21.83 ... Dalan Oliphant (RSA) born. 3 July 2004 (15y)

Sachin Dennis runs 10.20 at 100m a new world age-15 best

From the lists above, it could tell well that in order to be in the top lists (i.e. World fastest boys), an athlete has to run, on average 10.5-10.6 for the 100m dash, or 21.3-21.6 for the 200m event.

This information may not be as crucial as the appropriate development of young performers to be super-elite athletes but may be important to identify the "gold and diamond" (super talents) for appropriate talent management. There is no guarantee that talented teens will easily transition to become great athletes.


*Information as of 28 April 2019 (only regular performance).

Acknowledgments: ATFS, IAAF, Asian AA, Tilastopaja, D.Eisold