Costa Rican athlete Juan Diego Castro finished fourth in the 2017 IAAF World U18 Championships in the 800 meters track running that is being held at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

With an extraordinary effort, the young athlete established a new national record and made history for Costa Rica.

Castro finished with a time of 1:49.76, the national best record before this was established by Victor Emilio Ortiz with 1:50.04 back in 2012.

The winner of the event was Ethiopian Melese Nberet who stopped the clock at 1:47.12 establishing a new world record, while Tolesa Bodena also from Ethiopia took the second place with 1:47.16. The third place of the competition went to Kenyan Japhet Kbiwott with 1:47.82.

The Ethiopians, the Kenyan and the local Noah Kiprona were able to take a considerable advantage since the first lap. Kiprona slowed his pace in the last few seconds of the competition and Castro took advantage of this to take the fourth position.

“We are very happy with this result, I get goosebumps knowing what this kid from San José has achieved, impressive, and that’s why we have to continue believing in these talents. A Tico is fourth in the world!” said Geen Clarke President of the Costa Rica Athletics Federation, and who is currently in Kenya.

Final results:

1. Melesa Nberet (Etiopía); 1:47.12

2. Tolesa Bodena (Etiopía); 1:47.16

3. Japhet Kbiwott (Kenia); 1:47.82

4. Juan Diego Castro (Costa Rica); 1:49.76

5. Abedellah Mouzlip (Marruecos); 1:49.90

6. Noah Kiprono (Kenia); 1:50.31

7. Charaf Zahir (Marruecos); 1:51.87

8. Eduardas Rivas Survilas (Lituania); 2:02.15