Queensland sprinter Lachlan Kennedy has done what no other Australian has ever managed on home soil, running under 10 seconds in the men’s 100 metres.
The 22-year-old produced a blistering run of 9.96 seconds in the first heat at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney.
“Honestly, I didn’t really even expect it. I was just super relaxed, not cruisy, I was definitely pushing it, but it just felt easy,” he said.
“I think I got a bit more in the tank, but good to see I’m in good form.
“Honoured to be the first to do it [in Australia]. I’m sure we’ll have way more in the future.
“No-one can ever take that away from you, so I’m certainly glad it was me.”
It was a still, balmy night, with a tailwind of +0.2, and Kennedy capitalised on the ideal conditions, to break 10 seconds for the second time in his career.
His previous personal best was 9.98 set in Kenya in May 2025.
He was justifiably pumped after the race, jumping and celebrating with his fellow competitors.
And while he lapped up the achievement, he knows he hasn’t achieved what he set out to do yet.
“I think I’ve got so much more to give … but we’re off to a cracking start,” he said.
“Of all the conditions, today is probably the best objectively, but at the end of the day, I’m here to win that national final.
“I’m here to get my first national championship, so saving the best for tomorrow.”
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Kennedy will be the raging favourite for tomorrow’s semis and then final, with Patrick Johnson’s long-standing national record of 9.93 seconds well within his reach.
“I don’t like to put a ceiling on what I can do, but I’ll hopefully try and break that Aussie record tomorrow,” he said.
Kennedy will also take on Gout Gout in the men’s 200 metres in one of the most anticipated showdowns of the meet.
Top 5 all-time Australian men’s 100 metre timesTimeNameDate9.93Patrick JohnsonMay 5, 20039.96Lachlan KennedyApril 10, 20269.98Lachlan KennedyMay 31, 202510.00Gout GoutFebruary 21, 202610.01Rohan BrowningJuly 31, 2021