Long Time Coming For Lizzy Lucason And Jonah Gorevic

Meet Jonah Gorevic, 3-Time World Record Holder At 12 Years Old

Age Group World Records - Mile

10 years old - 5:01.55

11 years old - 4:51.85

12 years old - 4:43.20

How We Got Here

In 2014, the world got their first glimpse of Jonah Gorevic.  Although well known in the circles of youth competition, it was Gorevic's World Record run at the 2014 Adidas Grand Prix that garnered him international acclaim.  He was ten years old at the time, just completing 5th grade.  Running 5:01.55, Gorevic shattered the World Record in the mile for 10 year olds in front of live tv, at the Diamond League Event in New York City.  To reach such a pinnacle at an early age would satisfy most, but the pursuit of excellence wasn't over for Gorevic.

So Gorevic came back to the Grand Prix in 2015, and now at 11-years-old, added another World Record to his name.  Over the course of a year, he had dropped his time to 4:51.85, an 11-year-old World Record for the mile.  Once again, winning such a prestigious event in World Record time left the wunderkind unfazed.  Even the great Hicham Elquerrouj, overall Mile World Record Holder, was nothing short of impressed.

Hear from Jonah Gorevic after his second age group world record

The pursuit continued.  Jonah was now entering 7th grade, which in New York State allows you to take an athletic equivalency test to determine whether or not you can be allowed to run varsity (read: High School) cross country and track.  And yet, Gorevic forwent the option presented to him, continuing his successful training and competition within the youth circuit.  He did have one taste of the "big" leagues, in which he competed in the seeded race as an unattached runner at Nike Cross Regionals - New York, placing 129th of 233 runners.  But there was still unfinished business on the club circuit.  There was another World Record to chase.

With the Adidas Grand Prix now relocated to Boston in 2016, the streak of World Records at the event would come to an end.  However, the Middletown 10k classic, held on June 4th, fit the hole left in the schedule nicely, and served as the new target.  Running with then-8th grade, and now freshman Warwick transfer, Behailu Bekele-Arcuri, Gorevic narrowly took down the former 12-year-old world record of 4:43.78 held by Ryan Silva.  Gorevic would cruise across the line in 4:43.20, keeping the three year streak alive.

Fast Facts

Jonah Gorevic is a product of good genes, and good coaching.  Parents Diana Tapper and Jason Gorevic are both runners themselves, completing a few marathons a piece.  For the past four years, Gorevic has trained under Coach Carl Curran with the Tailwind Track Club.  His average mileage has always been no more than 15 miles a week.  The progression has been slow, and that's on purpose.  No need to burn out on high mileage at such a young age.

A New Debut

In the fall of 2016, Gorevic once again ventured into uncharted territory.  Running for Hackley High School, 8th Grade Jonah Gorevic competed in the Somers Big Red Invitational, his first High School competition.  He placed 4th overall in his race.  While expectations are low for an athlete of such youth, there are still some things to accomplish before hitting High School.  If we had to guess, the 13-year old age group World Record of 4:29.0 for the mile by Brit Andrew Barnett from 1955 has to be top of the list.

Further Reading

Story from USA Today

Getting to know Jonah

Hear From Gorevic After Millrose 800m Win