Eddie Nketia has recorded the fastest 100m time by an Australian in athletics history – albeit with an illegal tail-wind – after Gout Gout cost himself a sub 10-second time on Saturday. Nketia, who recently switched allegiances from New Zealand to Australia, ran a 9.84 for the University of Southern California at a US college meet on Sunday.
It came with a massive +2.8m/s tail-wind, meaning the time won’t officially count and go into the record books. But it goes down as the fastest time by an Australia in ‘all conditions’, breaking Patrick Johnson’s previous record of 9.88 set in Perth in 2003.
Eddie Nketia (L) ran a 9.84 in America, smashing’s Gout Gout (R) best time and becoming the fastest Aussie in all conditions. Image: Getty/Track Gazette
Johnson holds the offical Australian record with 9.93, while Lachie Kennedy ran a 9.96 at the national championships last week for the fastest time ever on Aussie soil. Despite his time not being officially legal, Nketia’s 9.84 has lit up the athletics world.
Many are commenting on how strong Aussie athletics has become – and will continue to be – with the likes of Nketia, Gout and Kennedy. Nketia previously ran for New Zealand, but has switched his allegiance to Australia after spending eight years in Canberra while he was in school.
Athletics commentator Mitch Dyer wrote online: “Scary times in Aus sprinting”. Another person wrote: “What an era of sprinting.”
Gout Gout misses sub-10 seconds after waving to crowd
Gout’s official fastest time across 100m is 10 seconds flat, although he’s recorded a wind-assisted 9.99. He was hoping to go under 10 seconds at the junior national championships on Saturday, but cost himself by waving to the crowd before the finish line.
The 18-year-old ran a 10.21 to win the junior title in Brisbane, after waving to his family near the end of the race. While admitting his time was “nothing world class”, he said a sub-10 run was only a matter of time.
“One hundred per cent,” he said. “I have done 10-flat in my season opener and that race was a bit rocky. Time will tell obviously but I am pretty sure that is coming soon. Obviously I didn’t do it today, but soon for sure.”
Gout Gout waved to the crowd before the end of the race.
(Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)
When asked about his wave to the crowd he said: “The more of a show there is the more people are going to come and watch. The more people, the more pressure there is. The more pressure, the faster you run. I love putting on a show.”
Gout broke the 20-second barrier in the 200m at the senior national championships in Sydney last week, becoming the first Aussie to do so legally. His 19.67 smashed Usain Bolt’s best Under-20 time of 19.93 set in 2004, while also breaking the age world record.