Distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt opened his season with an explosive performance on Sunday, breaking his own South African short track 5 000m record in Boston, USA.

Competing at the Boston University Last Chance meeting, WIldschutt clocked 12:55.02 over 25 laps of the indoor track. He took second place behind American athlete Nico Young, who won the race in 12:51.56.

Wildschutt, who broke six South African records last year, continued his record-breaking spree, taking nearly two seconds off his previous SA short track mark of 12:56.76 which he set in Boston in January last year.

His time of 12:55.02 was the fastest ever run by a South African, either indoors or outdoors, over the 5 000m distance.

"The more Adriaan focuses on improving his times, the more he edge's closer to clipping the the next national record," remarked JamesMoloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. "This is basically how he began his record-breaking spree season last year.

"He started early in the year and persisted until he set multiple national records the previous year and this season his focus must be to bring his times closure to competing for the World Champs podium.

"So, congratulations to Adriaan, coach and support staff!"

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS