The British teenager bettered J-Mee Samuels’ mark of 6.74 from 2003 at Lee Valley
Divine Iheme has continued to impress into 2025 after setting a world age 15 best over 60m.
Last month, the 15-year-old clocked 6.76 at the BFTTA Indoor Series in Lee Valley and there were hopes he could soon break the world best over the distance for his age group.
The mark to beat was 6.74, set by American J-Mee Samuels in 2003.
Not only did Iheme break the record this time round but he did it on two occasions, clocking 6.71 and 6.72 in his respective races at the next instalment of the BFTTA Indoor Series in London (January 5).
Divine Iheme (Pat Isaacs)
The teenager is now fourth on the UK 60m under-18 all-time rankings and is not far off Mark Lewis-Francis’ record of 6.69, recorded all the way back in 1999.
Iheme, who is also known as ‘Lightning’ Divine’, made global headlines last summer after clocking a world age 14 best of 10.30 over 100m.
That run saw Iheme sky-rocket up the international junior rankings and he is now third on the European U18 all-time 100m list. Only Britain’s Teddy Wilson (10.26) and France’s Jeff Erius (10.27) have gone faster.
The 14-year-old is coached by mum Nkiruku Iheme, who is the founder of the PWD Athletic Academy – created to help kids realise their potential through athletics – in Oxfordshire.
Divine Iheme (Pat Scaasi)
Both of his parents – his dad is Innocent Iheme – represented Nigeria at international level, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
The teenager has also previously stated that he watched and studied both Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix growing up.
The Oxfordshire-based athlete told Sky Sports last year: “I’ve watched quite a lot of Usain Bolt’s races and Allyson Felix’s 200m, 400m and relays.
“Probably the first race I watched, was his [Bolt’s] world 200m world record, the 19.19, and I was inspired to pursue the dream.”
In that same interview Iheme, who was born in Nigeria, added that he wanted to represent Great Britain in the future “because they have helped me the most”.
» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
