Bowral's Harry Keats wins 400m and 800m races at the USA Track and Field National Youth Outdoor Championships

He took part in the USA Track and Field National Youth Outdoor Championships in Icahn Stadium from June 29 to July 2 and won both the 400m and 800m races.

Harry's father John Keats said the 12-year-old did better than he thought he would and that the achievement was remarkable.

"The 800m was his pet event and he won the final by about six seconds after qualifying in first spot as well," John said.

"The most impressive thing about the feat was that he came up against top quality runners."

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Adding to that, he ran a personal best time of 56.25 seconds in the 400m race at the same arena where Usain Bolt broke the record for the 100m race.

"His coaches have really been working on the 400m distance with him, so it really paid off," John said.

"To make things more incredible, he only had two days to prepare and the temperature was blistering hot and humid.

"He won the 800m race in 36 degree heat with no wind."

The Bowral Little Athletics member was also scheduled to take part in the 1500m race, but pulled out to concentrate on the 400m.

The next event for Harry will be the NSW All Schools Championships at the end of September in Sydney.

His ultimate goal is to break the 800m world record for a 12-year-old and he has until January 25 to do so.

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