Lauren Ryanun shatters 20-year Australian record to secure Olympic campaign

Victorian Lauren Ryan has booked her spot at the Paris Olympics after shattering the Australian 10,000m record.

Lauren Ryan has set a new Australian record for the 10k. Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images

Victorian Lauren Ryan has booked her spot at the Paris Olympics after breaking a 20-year-old Australian 10,000m record.

It was the perfect birthday present for Ryan, who turned 26 on Friday, with the former US college student taking 94 seconds off her previous best to claim Benita Johnson’s national record.

Ryan clocked 30min 35.66sec to finish third at The Ten event in San Juan Capistrano, California, which was two seconds better than Johnson’s mark which set at the Paris world championships in 2003.

After a promising junior career the former Geelong Grammar student endured a tough run with injury before moving over to the States where she joined Florida State University. She graduated in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree of Science and Sports Management.

Ryan made her first senior national team at last year’s world championships in Budapest where she was run out in the heats of the 5000m.

But she showed improved form in December when she claimed her first national 10,000m crown, winning the Zatopek:10 in trying conditions at Albert Park.

Ryan was joined by Jack Rayner, the men’s Zatopek champion, at the Californian event and he also produced a record-breaking performance.

Rayner lowered his own national record – which he set at The Ten event two years ago – by almost six seconds, clocking 27:09.57sec to confirm his spot in the Paris Olympic team.