Athletics: Twins destroy 23-year-old record

Katikati twins Sean, left, and Daniel Nicholson, 11, broke a 1500m record set in 1992.

It was rare enough that 13 records were broken at the annual Jennings Cup junior club meeting.

But identical twins both smashing a record that has stood for 23 years made it even more remarkable.

Daniel and Sean Nicholson, 11, from the Katikati Athletic Club caused a stir at the Tauranga Domain with their remarkable run in the 1500m race to knock five seconds off the record that has stood since 1992.

Daniel ran 4m 45s to beat his brother Sean home by 1.1s to showcase their prodigious talent in just their third race over the distance.

It was certainly no fluke for the Katikati Primary School pupils.

Earlier this month they were first and second in both the 1500m and 800m qualifying races to represent New Zealand in the transtasman meeting against Australia next January in Auckland.

Sean pipped his brother in both races then but Daniel managed to beat Sean in last week's record race at the Domain.

"Sean was leading the whole way until the last 200m when I went in front of him and then sprinted until the end," Daniel said. "We both have goes at winning and sometimes it's different."

Sean said it felt like a faster race than normal, which he said was due to older boys in the same race, including a 14-year-old, who all ended up trailing in the twins' wake.

"I like running 1500 now. It's fun to do," Sean said.

The brothers love most other sports, including surf lifesaving, football, rugby, cross country and swimming, but middle distance running is clearly the standout.

Katikati Primary teacher and secretary of the local athletics club, Jane Harray, said they were amazing athletes.

"I encouraged their family to come to an event last year at Tauranga Domain because I could see how good they were. They are incredible. Last year they won the Bay of Plenty cross country title and they were first and second again this year," she said. "It looks like 1500 is going to be their strength.

"They have huge raw talent. What they are doing is off being pretty fit kids. No one is training them to run these distances. It is just what they can do and they are already this far ahead of everyone else their age.

"But they are also fantastic sports. They are quick to help others and when they finish the cross country at school, one will wait for the other so they finish together so one is not the winner."