Fireworks illuminated the night sky during the Royal Easter Show as the men’s 100 metres final at the Australian Athletics Championships exploded with excitement. Brisbane sprinter Lachie Kennedy made his mark by clinching his first national title, clocking an impressive 9.96 seconds, matching his earlier heat time.
Kennedy’s achievement was remarkable as he became the first Australian to break the ten-second barrier on home soil under legal conditions. With the wind slightly favourable at +0.2 metres per second in the heats and +0.5m/s in the final, he demonstrated exceptional speed and consistency, having managed the feat within 24 hours.
In his final, he outpaced notable competitors such as Josh Azzopardi, who finished second with a time of 10.16 seconds, and Rohan Browning at 10.19 seconds. Kennedy expressed his contentment with the win, reflecting on the hard work and dedication shared with his coach and team. He stated, “Hopefully, that’s just the standard now,” indicating his intention to set higher benchmarks in the future.
The victory was particularly sweet for the 22-year-old, having been narrowly defeated by Browning in the previous year’s championships. Celebrating his win before an enthusiastic crowd, Kennedy expressed relief and pride in achieving his national championship dream. The ambiance was heightened as the fireworks synchronised with the athletes at the starting blocks, leading to a unified gasp from the audience.
Although Kennedy clocked 10.05 seconds in the semi-finals, he remained undecided about participating in the upcoming 200m race, preferring to assess how he felt after such an intense sprint.
In the women’s 100m final, Georgia Harris, aged 21, emerged victorious with a time of 11.50 seconds, narrowly besting Chloe Mannix-Power and Ebony Lane, who finished in 11.52 and 11.54 seconds, respectively. The trio included competitors from last year, but many were absent this year due to various reasons such as injuries and personal commitments.
Cameron Myers, an outstanding young distance runner, secured a commanding win in the men’s 5000m final, finishing strong in 13:11.66, ahead of Seth O’Donnell and Morgan McDonald. Myers had already showcased his prowess by winning the 1500m event just a day earlier.
The championships also saw Ellie Beer and Reece Holder take home the women’s and men’s 400m titles. Beer finished in 52.13 seconds, followed closely by Mia Gross and Alexia Loizou, while Holder clocked 45.11 in a thrilling competition, edging out Luke van Ratingen and Thomas Reynolds to secure his victory.
Overall, the championships delivered thrilling performances, with Kennedy’s 100m triumph being a highlight moment.