21-year-old Eddie Osei-Nketia clocked 10.08 and in the process beat his dad's national record of 10.11 in the World Championships in Oregon.
He also matched his father, Augustine 'Gus' Nketiah's record of reaching a semi-final in the 100m world championship. Augustine Nketiah achieved the feat in 1994 and reached the 100m semifinals at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenberg.
The young New Zealand sprinter who qualified for the 100m semis was overwhelmed after breaking his father's record.
"I didn’t know at first that I had broken my father’s record, I just knew I had to get into the top three. My goal was to reach the semi-finals.
"Now, after seeing 10.08, I was berserk. I was emotional and was crying,” Osei-Nketia noted.
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The 21-year-old revealed he used his usual technique of singing to himself from the start line to the finish line.
“I was focused. My head was in the race. I used the technique I always use–singing to myself while racing. I sang ‘Are You Mine’ from the start to the finish, and it was effective. "That is what kept me calm and got me through the pressure," he revealed.
“Of course, I’m not going to go out and go crazy tonight, I’ll save that for another time. Since I’ve got Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman, they’re known to have good starts. All I have to do is don’t be scared, panic, or tie up, just stay with them, and we’ll see what time we get,” he added.
The 100m semi-finals and finals are scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 17.
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