EUGENE, Ore., July 16 (Reuters) – When New Zealand’s Edward Osei-Nketia clocked 10.08 seconds in the heats of the 100 meters at the World Championships in Athletics, he not only qualified for the semi-finals, but he also broke his father’s national record which had stood for 28 years.

Osei-Nketia, 21, was not even born when his father Augustine Nketia clocked 10.11 at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. Augustine was also a former Olympian having competed in the 100m at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

“I never thought I would achieve this in my life…it was like a dream,” Osei-Nketia told New Zealand newspaper 1News.

“At first I just reacted saying I was in the semis because that was my goal. But me, I got that record, I was like, ‘I did it! I have the record. I finally have the record! “”

When asked if his father was upset that the record was no longer his, Osei-Nketia replied that he took it well.

“My dad was actually amazingly proud. I thought he would be heartbroken, sad and angry because he expected this record to be there forever,” Osei-Nketia added.

“But for his son to take it, it was good but it was bad at the same time!”

Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bangalore; Editing by Ken Ferris

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