Nate Riech posts world record time in 1,500m

Story from Athletics Canada

After a disappointing race a couple weeks back, Nate Riech had to analyze what had gone wrong.

“I was really embarrassed with my race,” said Riech. “I wrote to (Athletics Canada West Hub endurance coach) Heather Hennigar a really honest debrief. It hurt me to send it to her. I was being honest, and I gave up during the race.”

Rather than being discouraged by a bad race, Riech lined up in the starting blocks at the Victoria Twilight Meet on Saturday and clocked a new world record time in the men’s T38 1,500 metres, with a sizzling time of 3:52.56, pending ratification.

Bouncing back in record style, Riech points to that disappointing result as a motivator in the late stages of his record run. “It just really focused me. It made me think ‘Let’s do everything we need to do for the next race and let’s put in a great time’ and that really helped,” he said. “There was a lot of anger in the last 500 metres. I told the pacer ‘Get off, I’m going!’ I was just feeling good.”

Riech is no stranger to world records. It was his own world record that he broke Saturday night in Victoria, and he also owns the world record for the men’s T38 800 metres. “It’s always nice when you can run what you think you can,” said Riech. “I know some other Canadians are running well and that’s really motivating me.”

Up next, Riech will compete in a 5,000-metre race in two weeks. Never one to shy away from an ambitious goal, his mission is clear: set a new personal best. “I’m the kind of person who isn’t afraid to put it out there,” he said. “I think I’m definitely capable and I always like to have something to look forward to.”