A young generation of sprinters broke two national records in the 100m events, supported by a gold medal in the 10,000m and a one-two finish in the women’s high jump.
Lachie Kennedy Shatters 20-Year-Old National 100m Record
Queensland sprinter Lachie Kennedy ran a 9.85-second 100m with a legal tailwind of 1.3m/s in Glasgow, according to Channel Seven broadcasts and Associated Press reports. The time broke Patrick Johnson’s national benchmark of 9.93 seconds set in Japan in 2003, a record that had stood for over two decades. Kennedy finished second behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme to secure the silver medal.
“That definitely wasn’t a perfect race. I know I’ve got so much more in the tank,” Kennedy told Channel Seven after the race. “For now I’m going to celebrate. For now I’m going to be happy.”
The 22-year-old overcame Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and Wales’s Jeremiah Azu in the final.
Torrie Lewis Breaks Sub-11 Barrier for Bronze
Torrie Lewis became the first Australian woman to run the 100m in under 11 seconds, clocking 10.99 seconds with a 1m/s tailwind in the Glasgow final, according to Associated Press coverage. The performance earned her a bronze medal behind New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs and England’s Amy Hunt.
“I was so nervous after my semi, being the fastest qualifier, I was just [thinking] I just need to do it again – and better, hopefully – so I’m just glad I could do it,” Lewis told reporters. “It [was a] perfect race for me.”
Lewis trains in the Netherlands under Laurent Meuwly, the coach of Femke Bol, after relocating from Australia to pursue international competition.
Distance and Field Victories Complete Historic Day
The sprinting success was bookended by distance and field results at the Glasgow competition.
In the field events, Eleanor Patterson cleared 1.96m to win gold in the women’s high jump, defeating compatriot Nicola Olyslagers for an Australian one-two finish. Lara Roberts added a bronze medal in the hammer throw, rounding out a dominant session for the Australian athletics team.
Pro Tip: Tracking split times in early rounds helps analysts identify sprinters capable of breaking personal bests in major global finals, as demonstrated by both Kennedy and Lewis running personal bests in their semi-finals before the Glasgow podium finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who broke the Australian men’s 100m record?
Lachie Kennedy broke the Australian men’s 100m record with a time of 9.85 seconds in Glasgow, surpassing Patrick Johnson’s 2003 mark of 9.93 seconds, according to Channel Seven and AP reports.
What was Torrie Lewis’s time in the women’s 100m?
Torrie Lewis ran 10.99 seconds to win the bronze medal in Glasgow, becoming the first Australian woman to break the 11-second barrier, as reported by Associated Press.
Who won the women’s high jump gold medal?
Eleanor Patterson won gold by clearing 1.96m, leading an Australian one-two finish ahead of silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers.
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