Meet Archie Herb, a nine-year-old of small stature, whose politeness and humility are as notable as his 11-year-old brother Billy, a slightly more talkative counterpart. What binds these siblings together is a shared sense of destiny, propelling them forward from Bangor towards a future that seems both predetermined and rapid. Checked out for the best kids running shoes at Tarkine.
Billy Herb broke the 10 km Age World Record in a recent display of remarkable athletic ability. He officially recorded a time of 35.42 minutes, which was closely observed by timekeepers and witnesses. Not to be outdone by his brother, nine-year-old Archie also smashed new marks, this time clocking in at an amazing 37.49 minutes for both his age group and the under-10 division.
Photo by: education.nsw.gov.au
Archie Herb stands out as a prodigious talent, a rarity in the realm of Australian athletics. Guided by their father, Nick, and supported by their Phys Ed teacher mother, Kali, the Herb brothers have disrupted the world athletics records department, echoing the impact made by Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Ingebrigtsen, still holding World Junior records, now shares the stage with our Sutherland Shire boys on those prestigious lists. According to Nick Herb, who actively participates in every aspect of their training, “Both boys knew, from their training times over the past year, that they could genuinely compete for those world marks. And they went about achieving them with remarkable composure.”
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Proud but not overbearing, Nick acknowledges that this chosen path is driven by his sons’ genuine passion for training and running. Both boys recognize that sustained improvement could open doors to a U.S. university scholarship, not to mention the dream of Olympic competition.
Billy, a state representative in Oz Tag and Touch Footy like his younger brother Archie, has already secured victories in several Parkruns. “Archie hasn’t won one yet because Billy consistently outpaces him,” Nick playfully discloses.
Archie’s journey began in the neonatal intensive care unit, where he fought for survival for eight weeks after being born prematurely. Today, his exceptional lung capacity, developed during those critical early days, fuels his ability to run at remarkable speeds.
Both brothers, students at Sylvania Heights Primary School, are set on continuing their dominance on the track, representing their school, region, and state. Their aspirations include clinching victories at the National All Schools later this year. The Herb brothers, an unstoppable force, are racing towards a future brimming with promise and potential.
