9‑year‑old breaks parkrun record
A 9‑year‑old girl set a new London parkrun record by running 5K in under 20 minutes — a local milestone that’s sparked talk of even faster junior times ahead ‘World's fastest’ girl, 9, sets new London parkrun record running 5k under 20 minutes.
Lily Janmohamed (discover.swns.com) recorded 19 minutes 45 seconds for the 5K at Battersea parkrun on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Her father, Faizal Janmohamed, said the time broke the British 5K mark for a nine‑year‑old and he believes it may also be the world road record for that age group. (discover.swns.com) The 19:45 is 31 seconds quicker than the 20:16 she ran at the same Battersea parkrun on April 26, 2025 — a performance widely reported at the time as making her the fastest eight‑year‑old girl over 5K. (harrowtimes.co.uk) That April 2025 run had eclipsed the previous eight‑year‑old standard of 20:30 set by Gabrielle Hall in 2015. (nationaldailypress.com) During the 20:16 outing she was paced by endurance runner Joshua Patterson, who ran alongside her to help hit the target on the Battersea course. (mynewsmag.co.uk) Janmohamed is from Stanmore and is in Year Five, and her family say she now aims to qualify for the London Mini Marathon and to make her borough team; supporters have also discussed seeking official recognition for her times. (discover.swns.com)
