ST GEORGE District Athletics Club junior Imogen Stewart has broken the world 800-metres and 1500-metres track records for her age group.
The eight-year-old from Sylvania, is the daughter of top Australian runner Belinda Martin. Imogen's dad Owen Stewart is her coach.
Belinda and Owen are both podiatrists and are helping their daughter to put her best foot forward in athletics.
Imogen's records were formally ratified recently by Athletics Australia.
Her sizzling 800m record was achieved at a meeting at Glendale, near Newcastle, in the time of two minutes, 29.01 seconds, lowering the existing mark held by American Daesha Rogers.
The youngster also set a world record for the 1500m event in 4min 59.42sec at Campbelltown, bettering both the under-eights and under-nines records.
International Association of Athletics Federation world records are recognised for athletes five years and older.
Imogen, a year 4 pupil at Gymea North Public School, started running when not much older than a toddler.
Her mother Belinda Martin, now 40, is a former national 5000m and half marathon champion.
She holds the Australian masters records for 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.
Owen Stewart trains a group of junior and senior athletes at Sylvania Waters Athletics track each week.
Imogen loves running.
"It gives you an opportunity to see different places and meet great people with similar interests," she said.
"I also enjoy it as I can run with my whole family," she said.
"One day I would like to run for Australia at the Olympics."
Imogen has won many state titles in cross-country and on the track.
Last year, she broke the St George Little Athletics Club's 400m record set by Melissa Babbage, who is the wife of federal Treasurer Joe Hockey.
Babbage is a former Australian representative and her feat had stood since 1975.
Imogen slashed two seconds off the mark, lowering it to 1min .08 sec.
Imogen's next big race is NSW All-Schools Cross Country on Friday at Eastern Creek, where she gets a chance to redeem herself after losing the lead in the under-eights and under-nines race last year, when she was seven.
Imogen took a wrong turn.
Owen Stewart said his daughter's progress had been very good.
"The apple didn't fall far from the tree, Imogen is just a mini-Belinda," he said.
"Genetically, she is blessed with her running style and determination being uncannily similar to her mother's.
"Imogen always gives 100 per cent in training and racing and I am very proud of her."
The family have just returned from the Gold Coast where Belinda Martin, Imogen and younger brother Kobe, 6, broke their age group course records.
What do you think of Imogen breaking two world records?
