Chen Jiapeng, who was born in 2002, ran a time of 10.08 seconds, and Zeng Keli, who was born in 2006, ran 10.20 seconds in two shots at the Asian Youth Championships in track and field, including a time of 10.15 seconds in the semifinals and a championship in 10.19 seconds in the final. Zeng Keli set a new personal best in the 100 meters and broke the national youth record at the same time. The 17-year-old is on the rise, with excellent physical condition and the potential to break 10 seconds in the future. Another 100-meter star in China is on the rise.
Zeng Keli showed a very high level in the 60m of this year's National Indoor Track and Field Series, running 6.62 seconds, second only to Jiangsu's Shi Yuhao, ranking second in this year's domestic 60m race.
Now in the outdoor 100m race, Zeng Keli has also shown strong competitiveness. In the semi-finals of the Asian Youth Championships 100m, Zeng Keli ran a time of 10.15 seconds, breaking the U20 national youth record of 10.18 seconds set by He Yuhong in 2020, and also breaking the Asian Youth Championships record. A few hours later, Zeng Keli won the 100m final with a time of 10.19 seconds.
Zeng Keli's time of 10.15 seconds ranked third among China's 100-meter runners this year, Xie Zhenye was first in 10.06 seconds, and Chen Jiapeng was second in 10.08 seconds. Zeng Keli's time surpassed Wu Zhiqiang's 10.19 seconds. In other words, Zeng Keli and Chen Jiapeng are qualified to impact the Chinese sprint relay.
Zeng Keli's 10.15 seconds time is very golden, and there are not many Chinese 100-meter athletes who are faster than him in history, only Su Bingtian (9.83 seconds), Xie Zhenye (9.97 seconds), Zhang Peimeng (10.00 seconds), Chen Guanfeng (10.06 seconds), Chen Jiapeng (10.08 seconds), Wu Zhiqiang (10.11 seconds), Xu Zhouzheng (10.12 seconds) and others.
Su Bingtian's form has slipped since the Tokyo Olympics due to injury, and combined with his age, he has struggled to return to his best form. After Su Bingtian, Xie Zhenye is equivalent to the new core of China's 100 meters. The rise of Chen Jiapeng and Zeng Keli has given Chinese track and field hope for the rise of the men's 100 meters. Both Zeng and Chen have hopes of breaking the 10-second mark in the future.
This Asian Youth Championship is the beginning of Zeng Keli's entry into the international competition stage, and he should create more miracles in the future. Su Bingtian is precisely Zeng Keli's idol, and the two once took a group photo. Zeng Keli will look up to Su Bingtian.