CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNN) -- Ensuring dominance over its two-legged rival, a young four-legged runner easily swept passed the 100-meter dash record of the fastest human sprinter in the world.

Nyana, a 17-month-old cheetah representing South Africa, lopped more than three seconds off the record mark of 9.86 set by Donovan Bailey of Canada. The feline phenomenon clocked 6.8 Wednesday while chasing a plush toy leopard attached behind a speeding car.

Despite its uncontested status as the fastest land animal, the cheetah may lose the race of its life.

"It's the oldest cat in the world, and we're just about losing it." cheetah trainer Annie Beckhelling said of "the most threatened cat in Africa." She estimates cheetahs have from 10 to 15 years left before extinction.

Organizers held the event to raise badly needed funds for the endangered species.

The run was to "make people aware of how special this cat is ... and also to bring some awareness of what's happening to it," Beckhelling said.

Nyana, born and bred in captivity on the Spier wine estate in the vineyards area east of Cape Town, is part of the Cheetah Outreach campaign, aimed at breeding cheetahs in captivity to support the species' genetic viability. South Africa has about 1,500 cheetahs in the wild.

Nyana will not be allowed to rest on his laurels. Three more cheetah speed record attempts are planned this year in Namibia and the United States.

No word on whether he is considering any corporate sponsors.

Reuters contributed to this report.