Running News Daily

In an extraordinary display of talent and determination, 11-year-old James Hall from Melbourne has broken the Under-12 world record for the 1,500 meters twice within a fortnight. His latest achievement occurred at the 2025 Australian Junior Athletics Championships near Perth, where he clocked an impressive 4:11.81 in the Under-13 boys’ 1,500m event.

This remarkable performance surpassed his previous record of 4:13.81, set just a week earlier in Melbourne. At the championships, Hall also dominated the Under-13 boys’ 800m, winning by a significant margin with a personal best of 2:05.78.  

James follows in the footsteps of his older sister, Sophie Hall, who set the Under-12 girls’ world record in February 2023. While Sophie holds three youth age group records, James has now surpassed her with five, ranging from the 800m to the 3,000m.

In an interview with Australia’s 7 News, James expressed his ambition to represent Australia at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. Born in June 2013, he would be 19 during the 2032 opening ceremony, aligning perfectly with his Olympic aspirations.  

While experts advise caution regarding intensive training for young athletes, Hall’s natural talent and enthusiasm for the sport are evident. Fans and analysts alike recognize him as one of the most promising young talents in track and field today.  

Last weekend, Sophie Hall, an 11-year-old runner and swimmer from Melbourne, Australia, made local headlines as she set not one, but two world age group records in three days.

On Jan. 24, Hall ran a personal best time of 4:28.19 over 1,500m at the Victorian Milers Club meet, then she followed it up with a 3,000m in 9:38.16 at the U14 Victoria Track and Field Championships in Geelong. Both Hall’s times have shattered the previous 11-year-old age group records held by fellow Aussie runner Imogen Stewart.

In the 3,000m, Hall ran against girls three years older than herself and still managed to beat them by over a minute.

Hall is a youth athlete training with one of Australia’s most successful track clubs, Box Hill Athletics Club in Melbourne. The club has produced many national team athletes and Olympians in the last 20 years.

Running isn’t all Hall does; she is also a talented swimmer. Earlier this month, she won a silver medal at her state’s swimming championships in the 50-metre freestyle, and won another swimming medal one week later.

Last year, Hall hit a growth spurt, which has helped improve her times by nearly 40 seconds over 1,500m and by a minute for 3,000m. In the 2022 XC season, she also went undefeated, winning at the regional, state and national levels for her age group.

Most experts advise against heavy training for youth athletes if they are still developing. But in Hall’s case, it seems she has a lot of natural talent, a love for the sport and isn’t overtraining.