34 World Records Set by 10-year-old Barefoot Runner

34 World Records Set by 10-year-old Barefoot Runner
By Madeleine Kelly, Canadian Running Magazine

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At only 10 years old, Daniel Skandera of Santa Rosa, California has now run 35 age group international records.


Skandera holds international records from distances ranging between 600m and 5,000m, along with two American youth records over the 1,500m. Most recently, Skandera ran a 4:53.40 mile at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa to set the international mile record for 10 year-olds. The runner has become famous for running his track races barefoot.

The IAAF states that, “Athletes may compete barefoot or with footwear on one or both feet. The purpose of shoes for competition is to give protection and stability to the feet and a firm grip on the ground.”

The fifth-grader has dominated competition off the track as well. In the boy’s 9-10 race at the USATF 2017 Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Skandera won with nearly a five seconds lead on the competition.

Pictures suggest that Skandera typically wears shoes on the roads and for cross-country races, but goes barefoot while on the track.

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The barefoot runner is one of eight siblings, four of which are runners.

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California 10 year-old runs 4:53 mile barefoot
Canadian Running Magazine (blog)
The runner has become famous for running his track races barefoot. ... In the boy's 9-10 race at the USATF 2017 Junior Olympic Cross Country ...
https://runningmagazine.ca/california-10-year-old-runs-453-mile-barefoot/
 
Wonder how the National High School Federation will handle this when he reaches the high school level. Current NFHS rules do not allow barefoot running in track and field and cross country unless shoes are lost after the start of the race.
 
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Wonder how the National High School Federation will handle this when he reaches the high school level. Current NFHS rules do not allow barefoot running in track and field and cross country unless shoes are lost after the start of the race.

As it says in the article:

Pictures suggest that Skandera typically wears shoes on the roads and for cross-country races, but goes barefoot while on the track.

So I guess there's no problemo
 
Wonder how the National High School Federation will handle this when he reaches the high school level. Current NFHS rules do not allow barefoot running in track and field and cross country unless shoes are lost after the start of the race.
It's pretty easy losing your shoes after start...