At the recent Sydney Track Classic, sprinters Lachlan Kennedy and Josh Azzopardi, both striving to break the elusive 10-second barrier in the 100m dash, put their rivalry aside. They teamed up with Christopher Ius and Calab Law to set a new national record in the 4x100m relay, clocking an impressive time of 37.87 seconds, eclipsing the previous record of 38.12 seconds that they set during the Paris Olympics last year.
Post-relay, Azzopardi also showcased his individual prowess by winning the 100m race in a rapid 10.06 seconds. However, that impressive time was met with some disappointment as it was noted to have been aided by an illegal tailwind of +2.4m/s. Despite this, Azzopardi expressed enthusiasm about his performance, viewing it as a confidence boost in his quest to eventually run under the 10-second mark.
The excitement in Australian sprinting is palpable, with several athletes, including Rohan Browning and Gout Gout, also making strides. Browning clocked in at 10.12 seconds in the B final of the Brisbane championships, while Gout won the under-20 division at 10.38 seconds despite facing challenging winds.
Several sprinters—Browning (personal best of 10.01 seconds), Kennedy (10.03), Azzopardi (10.09), and Sebastian Sultana (10.11)—are all looking to break Patrick Johnson’s historic mark of 9.93 seconds from 2003, which remains a pinnacle in Australian athletics.
Additionally, Peter Bol claimed victory in the 800m at the Sydney event, finishing in 1:44.86 and expressing his aim to return to his previous best at the upcoming world championships in Tokyo. Notably, 17-year-old Daniel Williams impressed with a second-place finish in that race, marking him as a noteworthy future talent.
Other highlights included Jude Thomas winning the men’s 3000m and Georgia Griffith taking the women’s title in the same event, further showcasing the depth of talent emerging in Australian athletics. Overall, the Sydney Track Classic proved to be a significant catalyst for both established and up-and-coming athletes striving for excellence in their respective disciplines.