Patrick Johnson’s long-standing Australian 100-metre record is under serious threat from Brisbane’s sprinting star, Lachlan Kennedy, who aims to break the 22-year-old record at the national athletics championships this weekend in Sydney. Kennedy’s coach is confident that the 22-year-old is primed to challenge Johnson’s record time of 9.93 seconds, set in Japan in May 2003.
Kennedy will begin his attempt at breaking the record during the heats of the 100m on Friday evening, shortly after 7pm. Weather conditions are expected to be favourable, with temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius, ideal for sprinting. If coupled with a tailwind of 1.5 to 2.0 metres per second, Kennedy could find himself in an optimal racing environment.
Currently, Kennedy’s personal best stands at 9.98 seconds, achieved in Kenya last year. Alongside Johnson, he is one of only two Australians to have officially clocked under 10 seconds in suitable wind conditions. His coach, Iselin, believes Kennedy has the potential to run in the 9.80-second range and possibly approach a time under 20 seconds in the 200m. Iselin expressed his belief that the record is vulnerable and might be broken if conditions align favourably.
Iselin’s confidence stems from Kennedy’s recent performance at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, where he completed the 100m in 10.03 seconds despite challenging conditions. Kennedy’s run was hampered by an aggressive start that caused issues with his form, indicating he could have performed even better had he maintained proper technique. Remarkably, after experiencing severe cramps, he still competed in the 200m, winning his event against strong competition.
While Gout Gout, a rising star in sprinting, is set to race against Kennedy again in the 200m final on Sunday, he will not compete in the 100m. Iselin believes that the recognition of Kennedy’s exceptional talent is growing, shedding light on the potential of both him and Johnson as top-tier athletes in the sport.
Kennedy’s heats for the 100m will take place at 7pm on Friday, with the final scheduled for Saturday at 8.37pm. The upcoming days could mark a significant milestone in Australian athletics history if Kennedy manages to claim the record from Johnson.