By Michael Gleeson and Iain Payten
Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy has broken the elusive 10-second barrier for the 100m sprint, becoming just the second Australian man to legally do so.
Kennedy ran 9.98s with a legal and even slightly unhelpful wind of -0.7s at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya overnight.
The 21-year-old’s time makes him the second-fastest Australian man ever after Patrick Johnson’s 9.93 in 2003 and only the second ever to legally break 10 seconds. Australians Rohan Browning and Gout Gout, at the national championships this year in Perth, have also run under 10 seconds but both did so with illegal tailwinds.
Kennedy, who normally starts strong, had to come from behind to overtake Bayanda Wazala of South Africa, the world junior champion, and Ferdinand Omanyala the Kenyan Commonwealth gold medallist from Birmingham.
“As soon as I saw the 9.98 I was thrilled, the feeling was so surreal. I couldn’t believe it,” Kennedy said.
“I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super stoked to get the win and the time,” Kennedy said.
Lachlan Kennedy celebrates after winning the men’s 100m race at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya.Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images
“It’s so good. I can finally say I run 9! I haven’t wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually.”
In March this year Kennedy won silver at the world indoors when he ran 6.5s in a breakthrough performance on the world stage but the quality of this Continental Tour Gold meeting outdoors is further proof he is a serious contender on the world stage.
Kennedy’s time was the thirteenth fastest 100m run this year.
“The crowd was nuts out there. I think there was early movement from someone in the first part of the race, but it actually did me good. It settled the nerves so I was pretty confident out there today,” Kennedy said.
After Gout broke 10 seconds at Nationals in Perth, and was beaten by Kennedy in the 200m, both runners, who enjoy a friendly rivalry, said the race was on among this generation of athletes to be the next to break 10 seconds. Now he has done it.
“I didn’t think a 9 was realistic until a couple of years ago. When I was still playing rugby but starting to train and realising I had some speed, I made it the goal,” Kennedy said.
Breaking 10 seconds isn’t just a pleasing milestone, it is a crucial threshold that moves a runner from good to great.
It moves Kennedy from excellent national runner to a serious competitor on the world stage. Yes, you need to be breaking 10 regularly to hope to challenge the world’s best at the major championships, but this a 21-year-old who is still a long way from his peak and he has beaten the world junior champion.
Lachlan Kennedy of Australia celebrates after winning the men’s 100m race at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images
“I’m getting better with every race. It’s an advantage to have a long season at home. I’m not getting tired, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the World Championships,” he said.
“I’ve got a good coach (Andrew Iselin), good training partners – shout out to Calab Law - and a good S&C and team around me. It’s been about trusting the process.”
Kennedy will next run at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on June 24 where he’ll take on Gout Gout in the 200m, before travelling to the USA for the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5.
Johnson’s record of 9.93 seconds was set in 2003 but in the 22 years since no Australian sprinters have been able to join him in the sub-10 seconds club. Or legally, at least.
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