Teen running sensation Cameron Myers shattered an Australian record that had stood for 17 years in a sizzling run in Boston on Monday (AEDT), only a day after Izzi Batt-Doyle took down an Australian half-marathon record that had lasted for 25 years.
Myers clocked 7:33.12 in the 3000m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix to break Craig Mottram's national indoor record of 7:34.50, set at the same meet in 2008.
It followed a record-breaking run by Batt-Doyle in the Japanese city of Marugame on Sunday, in which the two-time Olympian laid down a time of 67:17 to break the late and great Kerryn McCann's Australian record of 67:48, set in Tokyo in 2000.
Myers already owned six Australian under-age records, as well as the men's under-18 1500m world record, but on Monday (AEDT) the 18-year-old secured his first senior national record.
The Nike-sponsored prodigy from Canberra fell just 0.25 of a second short of the under-20 indoor world record.
Cameron Myers in action at the 2024 Australian Track and Field Championships in Adelaide. Sarah Reed/Getty Images
He finished third in Boston, behind Andrew Coscoran of Ireland (7:30.75) and Frenchman Azeddine Habz (7:31.50).
While Myers set a new indoor record, the fastest 3000m run by an Australian man in any competition remains the 7:28.02 set by Stewart McSweyn at the 2020 Rome Diamond League meet.
Myers, coached by Dick Telford, is expected to make his senior Australian debut at the world championships in Tokyo in September.
He is aiming to qualify for the 1500m when he races a mile at the Millrose Games in New York City on Sunday. The mark to hit is 3:50.00.
In Marugame on Sunday, Batt-Doyle finished third and claimed her second Australian record.
The 29-year-old from Adelaide, coached by Nic Bideau, also owns the Australian women's 10km road record, having clocked 31:15 at Melbourne's Albert Park in September last year.
"This means a lot to me," Batt-Doyle said of breaking McCann's record.
Izzi Batt-Doyle contesting the women's 5000m at the Paris Olympics. Getty
"We have some amazing women holding our records and to take a record from Kerryn that has stood since 2000 really shows how hard it was. It's incredible she ran than 25 years ago!
"She was an amazing woman gone far too soon. I hope she is up there and proud to see girls challenging her times. I watched her Commonwealth Games run coming into the MCG [in 2006] and it just gives me chills even thinking about it."
Batt-Doyle contested the 5000m at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
Myers was qualified to be picked for the 1500m at the Paris Games, but only three spots were available and Australian Athletics selectors opted for McSweyn, Oliver Hoare and Adam Spencer.
