Gout Gout gets head start on Lachlan Kennedy for Stawell Gift, another teen star breaks Raelene Boyle’s Under 18 record

Stawell Gift handicaps have been released for this year’s renewal of the famous event and Gout Gout is well placed. Meanwhile, an emerging female track star has broken a 57-year record.

Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout will have a head start on his arch rival Lachlan Kennedy following the release of the Stawell Gift handicaps.

There are no scratch markers for this year’s event with Kennedy off 0.25m and Gout further out on 1m, which gives the 17-year-old a realistic shot at winning Australia’s richest footrace.

Lachlan Kennedy defeats Gout Gout in the 200m Final as part of the Maurie Pant Meet at Lakeside Stadium in March. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Former winner and Paris Olympics 4x100m relay runner Jacob Despard is off 1.75m with one-time boom junior Jack Hale on 2m.

There are two running off scratch in the women’s Gift, Olympic 100m semi-finalist Bree Rizzo and last year’s winner Chloe Mannix-Power.

And just today, a 17-year-old schoolgirl has broken Raelene Boyle’s U/18 100m which she set at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Perth’s Leah O’Brien clocked an incredible 11.14sec (+1.7mps) in the U/18 national championships race on Tuesday, going under Boyle’s time which had stood for 57 years.

Watch as WA’s Leah O’Brien detonates in the 100m at WA Athletics Stadium, setting a new Australian Under 18 record of 11.14. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vQTSayHygr

— Australian Athletics (@AustralianAths) April 8, 2025

Boyle set the junior 100m record (11.20sec) in Mexico shortly before she won the silver medal at age of just 17 in the 200m.

O’Brien, who had earlier claimed the U/18 200m title, now moves to No.4 on the senior Australian all-time list before Torrie Lewis.

She is now planning to back-up in the senior women’s 100m against the likes of Lewis with the heats on Friday afternoon.

Raelene Boyle at 1976 Montreal Olympics. Picture: S&G/PA Images via Getty Images

Gout and Kennedy will renew their rivalry over 200m at the Australian Championships in Perth on Sunday before turning their attention to chasing the $40,000 winner’s cheque in Stawell over the Easter weekend.

“Competing at Stawell has always been a goal of mine,” Kennedy, 21, said.

“The event’s rich history and the opportunity to compete for a big prize purse is exciting.

“I’m running well and give myself every chance for a win in Stawell.”

Despard, who was successful over the 120m at Central Park in 2018 off 4.5m, said he was keen to see if the hype around Gout was “real”.

Tasmania’s Jacob Despard wins the 2018 Stawell Gift. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I’m excited to race Gout and see if the hype is real,“ he said.

“Gout is an incredible talent, but he’s only 17 and hasn’t proven himself against the men yet.

“We need to remember he is still a kid. Let him develop and grow without putting too much pressure on him.”

Gout’s first race against men was at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne last month where Kennedy just pipped him in the 200m.

The Queensland schoolboy is running the 100m at the national championships on Thursday but is staying in the U/20 age group.

He will have plenty of admirers in Stawell, even from some of his rivals.

“Absolutely terrified! Gout’s a superstar!” South Australia’s Jesse Cordoma (8,75m) said. “It will be incredible to see him race in person, and honestly, an absolute honour to line up alongside him.”

Jesse Cordoma in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

His training partner Corey Baker (9.5m) agreed: “Gout Gout is such an extraordinary talent and a gift to Australian sprinting.”

Experienced coach Brett Robinson, whose Vikings Athletics squad has provided a record six Stawell winners, thinks Gout will “have his work cut out.”

“It’s amazing to have Gout Gout at Central Park, he is such an entertainer,” Robinson said.

“I think he will have his work cut out for him to challenge the lads (with handicaps above) 8m.”

Some of the best sprinters in the world have tried and failed in Stawell including former world record holder Asafa Powell, world champion Kim Collins and American star Jon Drummond.

Originally published as Gout Gout gets head start on Lachlan Kennedy for Stawell Gift, another teen star breaks Raelene Boyle’s Under 18 record