An eight-year-old girl from Stanmore may have beaten the parkrun world record for her age group.
On Saturday, April 26, Lily Janmohamed completed a 5km parkrun in 20 minutes and 16 seconds, beating the world record for an eight-year-old girl, which stood at 20 minutes and 30 seconds. She ran alongside her pacer, endurance runner Joshua Patterson.
Lily said: “When I crossed the finish line and heard my time, I couldn’t believe it! I was just so happy and proud. I knew I had to try my absolute best today, and having [Joshua Patterson] by my side helped me so much. He kept telling me I was doing great and that gave me the energy to keep going when it got hard. Beating the record felt like a dream come true. I still can’t stop smiling about it!”
Her brother, Daniyal, nine, is also a keen runner, having sparked both his and his sister’s love for the activity when he came fourth in a school race in Year 3.
Stanmore & Edgware News spoke to their father, Faizal, who shared: “I am beyond proud of Lily for what she achieved. Watching her give everything she had, from the very first step to the sprint at the finish line, was one of the most emotional moments I’ve had as a father. The focus, the grit, and the sheer joy she showed were remarkable.
“Both Lily and Daniyal continue to amaze me week after week. They’re not just talented — they’re hard-working, determined, and incredibly supportive of each other. The amount of training they do, their dedication to getting up early, balancing school and sport — it takes a lot of discipline, and they do it all with so much heart. I couldn’t be prouder of how hard they both work and how much they support each other along the way.”
Photo depicts Lily (left) and her pacer, Joshua Patterson (right), who previously ran 76 marathons in 76 days.
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