Lachlan Kennedy beats Gout Gout, sets a blistering time to win the 100 metres and then wins the 200
Updated ,first published
I was sad once. Twice is one pattern.
Lachlan Kennedy edged out Gout Gout for the second year in a row in Australia’s biggest athletics meet, beating the young superstar in the 200m.
First it rained on the track and then Kennedy rained on Gout’s parade for the second year in a row. Gut was unable to make enough ground after missing the start against the much quicker starter in Kennedy but stormed home in the final 40 metres. Kennedy did enough to win in 20.38 to Gout’s 20.43.
Amid the Gut frenzy that overshadowed almost everything in Australian Athletics for 18 months, Kennedy repeatedly stepped out of the shadows and said, ‘Look at me’. It’s not all about Gout’.
He did it again on Saturday night at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne; He doubled the 100 and 200 meters and ran 10.03 seconds in the 100 metres, running one of the fastest times ever run by an Australian on home soil.
Kennedy made emphatic reminders last year, too. Twice. When he first beat Gout in the 200 meters at the Maurie Factory, Gout was and still is the hottest thing in the sport.
He then beat him in the race to become the next Australian to break 10 seconds in the 100 metres. In June last year Kennedy ran 9.98 in Nairobi, becoming the second Australian to break 10 seconds after Patrick Johnson’s 9.93 in 2003.
It was a statement performance on Saturday night.
In mild conditions, hot weather that was not sprint-friendly and with the wind neither helping nor hindering, Kennedy edged out two-time world championship semi-finalist Rohan Browning, who ran 10.25 seconds in the 100 in front of a crowd of 10,000 at the Albert Park circuit.
“I know there are things I need to work on, but the conditions aren’t ideal. With such a quality field around you, it was good to be able to get out there and practice, even if the conditions weren’t elite. It was good to get out there and get my confidence back,” Kennedy said.
“I thought I had it cooked. Seeing it’s 10.03 on this track, it’s nice to know where I am.”
“The plan was always to win both (100m and 200m). This helps me for the 200m. I want to win.”
Making the still-young Browning feel like a veteran, the new generation is reminded that he remains a contender. He pushed Kennedy up to the tape.
Earlier, Jackson Sharp had one of the most exciting races of the night over the unusual distance of 3000 metres, edging out Seth O’Donnell who had a lead of more than 50 meters even in the final 200. Sharp, 25, from NSW through the US collegiate system, won the race in 7 minutes 41.02 minutes. O’Donnell was 0.09 seconds behind him.
More to come
Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specializing in AFL and athletics.Connect with: X or email.
