It’s official: the fastest kid in Canarsie, 3rd-grader Benjamin Jerome Mack Cartwright, Jr., also known as BJ, can now also be called the fastest kid in the world, having won first place in the Millrose Games’ “Youth Boys’ (U-8) Fastest Kid in the World” 55-meter race.
The 8-year-old who is a student at Canarsie Ascend Lower School, located at 9719 Flatlands Avenue, is a junior Olympian who has been running since September 2023, amassing around 60 gold and silver medals (see “Canarsie’s Junior Olympian Qualifies for ‘Fastest Kid in the World’ Race,” Canarsie Courier, February 6, 2025).
Cartwright participated in the Millrose Games, a large annual indoor track and field competition held at The Armory in Manhattan, on Saturday, February 8th. He ran the youth boy’s 55-meter race and came in first place, winning gold and earning him the title of the fastest kid in the world.
“On Saturday, when we get to the game, he was very jovial and [confident],” Cartwright’s grandfather, Donohue Nelson, said in a written statement. “Normally, he would be nervous and nauseous before a big race — most times he would throw up before the start of the race but not this one. To be honest, BJ had more confidence of winning the race than I [did].”
After Cartwright’s practice prior to the race, he told his grandfather that he had hit a new personal best and that only one of his 15-year-old teammates from the Dashing Dons and Divas running club was able to match his time.
For the Millrose race in particular, his coach, Tabatha Gibbs, told Cartwright he’d have to run under eight seconds to win. His winning time was 7.95 seconds, a new personal best.
“I must have [watched] this race about 50 times; I’m so proud of this kid,” Nelson said. “I’m willing to do whatever I can to help him achieve his goals in life.”
Photos courtesy of the Nelson family
