Kazadi Kadima laced up for the Shepparton park run and blew away from the rest of the pack, winning the 5km event by a whopping two-minute margin.
Little did he know, nobody else in Victoria — boasting seven million people, give or take — came close to matching his effort.
Kadima, 15, recorded the fastest time across the entire state for the January 11 park run, blitzing across the finish line with a 15:44 effort.
He also set a new age group record for the Shepparton course in the junior male 15-17 category.
However, scarily, it’s not even his fastest 5km.
“It’s about nine seconds slower (than my best),” he said.
“I ran a 15:35 on a track about three months ago, so I’m probably in shape for about 15:10 now considering I ran that on road.”
Kadima’s usual domain is the athletics track, where straighter running lines, less curves and fewer competitors make for a quicker run.
This considered, the teenager’s blistering time on Saturday is a product of his graft over the silly season.
So, while others kicked back and relaxed, Kadima ran. Fast.
“I went up to Falls Creek for a week to do some altitude training with my running group in Melbourne,” he said.
“It was about building up one capacity and base by training in intense environments. It was pretty enjoyable because I got to spend a lot of time with my friends there as well.
“That was the second time I’ve done it, so, hopefully, I can make it back up there for the next few years and get some more training in.”
Kadima is a part of Melbourne-based Team Mathews Running, where he works his slow-twitch fibres into overdrive alongside fellow Shepparton athlete Jack Gospel during the week.
A middle-distance specialist, Kadima identified the 3km and 5km events as his best lengths, though it is the latter where he truly excels and accelerates in.
“I’d probably say I’m a bit better at the 5km than the 3km,” Kadima said.
“I don’t really have what’s called a ‘kick’, which is the ability to have a good sprint finish.
“Just having more time to work away from my competitors and hopefully tire them out gives me a better chance in the 5km on track.”
Kadima may not have a speedy sprint finish, but he gets his ‘kicks’ from the thrill of the chase.
With a few more race dates on his calendar to round out the athletic season, the Shepparton teen is out to leave his rivals in the dust and smash more records in 2025.
“I really enjoy competition, especially if a race goes well,” he said.
“I’ll look back on it and think I worked really hard, I gave it my all.”
