Young Toowoomba runner sets new Queensland 1500 metre record

Toowoomba may have already unearthed a 2032 Olympic representative, with teenage track star Judah Magarey already eyeing back-to-back state 1500m records. Check out the incredible feat that should have all Aussies on notice

TOOWOOMBA may have already unearthed a 2032 Olympic representative, with teenage track star Judah Magarey already eyeing back-to-back state 1500m records.

The 10-year-old set a new 1500m record of four mintues and 50.99 seconds for his age group at the recent Queensland Representative School Sports Track and Field State Championships and dreams of being centre stage as a 19-year-old when the Brisbane Games arrive.

“Next year, I want to break the 1500m record again, it is 4:39 so if I cut down by 11 seconds, I think I can get it,” the Toowoomba East State School said.

“I really want to get into the Olympics possibly or another dream would be maybe to be an AFL player, but it would be really good to achieve one of those two.”

After training intensely in the lead up to the recent competition, Magarey was delighted to be crowned state champion.

“I was relieved, we were training for the record for maybe six weeks and then to finally get it was really nice,” he said.

This was the second time Magarey has been crowned state champion this year, previously winning the cross country titles too.

Following his cross country success, he competed in nationals, which he said was the biggest step up in his career so far.

“I got 11th place, I didn’t get a PB sadly but I was still happy,” Magarey said.

His recent success comes off the back of two years of work, which all began with park runs.

“I have been running for two years, first my mum started doing park run, then my whole family started joining in and then I started doing some training,” he said.

One of the things Magarey loves most about running is the community he runs with.

Judah Magarey with his medal after winning the state championship.

“I just love the community, all the people are so nice and they always respect you,” he said.

Magarey’s commitment to running is unrivalled as he trains several times a week in his quest to keep improving.

“I do three training sessions a week and parkrun and then I might squeeze in an easy run as well,” he said.

However, even his “easy runs” are at an impressive pace for someone his age.

“A fast run is maybe sub four-minute pace and an easy run is maybe five to five and a half minutes,” he said.

Currently, Magarey has his sights set on breaking the 1500m state record for the 11-year-old boys age group.

Magarey will be focusing on speed work to try and up his pace for next year, which includes doing 800m runs and short sprints.