By Michael Gleeson
A 17-year-old schoolgirl has broken Raelene Boyle’s under-18 sprint record for the 100 metres set at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.
Leah O’Brien from Perth ran 11.14 seconds in the under-18 national championships race, beating Boyle’s time which had stood for 57 years.
Leah O’Brien comes to terms with breaking Raelene Boyle’s record that has stood for 57 years.Credit: Aussies In Action
Boyle set the junior record in the 100m in Mexico, the Olympics where she won silver at just 17 years of age in the 200m.
“I honestly thought my race in the heats [11.46] was a really good time, I expected to maybe go 11.3 in the final, but I’m so happy because I have been working really hard for that,” O’Brien said.
“It’s around the time that the open girls run, which is crazy to be running that still in high school.
“I’m going to come back and run the opens.
“I really look up to the top girls in Australia, like Torrie Lewis and Bree Masters (Rizzo).
“I’m always watching their Instagram reels and looking at their photos; it just looks so great and inspirational.”
Gout, Kennedy to start at back in Stawell
Teenage sensation Gout Gout, the fastest Australian man ever over 200m, will not be the backmarker for the Stawell Gift.
Teenage star Gout is helping drive interest in athletics.Credit: Australian Athletics
Gout, has still been given a difficult 1m mark but Lachie Kennedy, who won the sprint double at the recent Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne will be the back marker, with the most punishing handicap of 0.25m.
The 21-year-old Kennedy recently narrowly defeated Gout over 200m in Melbourne, the same night he also took out the 100m sprint.
The pair have the hardest handicaps for the famous Stawell Gift held over the Easter long weekend, culminating with the 120m race final on Easter Monday. The men’s and women’s winners each pocket $40,000.
The two Queenslanders will go head to head over 200m again this weekend at the Australian championships in Perth.
Both will also run the 100m sprint at the national titles, but Gout – who is still only 17 – will run the under-20 100m spring, while Kennedy will run the open race with his eyes firmly not only on winning but breaking 10 seconds.
Former schoolboy champion, Tasmanian Jack Hale will run from 6 metres, the same mark that last year’s winner Jack Lacey has been pulled back to this year.
In the women’s gift, defending champ Chloe Mannix-Power will run from scratch along with Paris Olympics 100m semi-finalist Bree Rizzo.
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