Australia’s athletics hopes have taken a significant hit weeks out from the world championships in Tokyo, after rising sprint star Lachie (Lachlan) Kennedy confirmed he will not compete due to a progressing injury.
The announcement came the same day that elite walker Jemima Montag also ruled herself out after undergoing surgery on a troublesome hamstring.
“It’s with a heavy heart I have to announce that I will not be competing at this year’s world championships in Tokyo due to a progressing injury,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram.
“Grateful for the year and the support I’ve received, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ll use this time to heal, grow and come back stronger than ever.”
Double blow for Australia
The loss of Kennedy, who broke Australia’s sprinting headlines earlier this year, compounds the disappointment of Montag’s withdrawal. Montag, a dual Olympic medallist and 2023 world silver medallist, revealed she returned home for surgery after the hamstring tendon issue showed signs of recurrence.
“Knowing at that point we would only have five or six weeks until Tokyo and that this hamstring tendon injury has the propensity to recur, ultimately the medical team decided it was best to fly home, get it operated on and prioritise the longer-term vision,” Montag told AAP.
“You’ve been hoping and praying throughout the rehab… So feeling that sharp pain in the hammy for the second time was fairly heartbreaking.”
Montag’s absence removes a proven medal contender from Australia’s team. With silver at the 2023 world titles and two Olympic bronzes from Paris, she had been widely regarded as one of the best prospects to deliver gold for the nation in Tokyo.
Kennedy’s rapid rise and the setback
Kennedy’s emergence has been one of the more exciting storylines for Australian athletics this season. In June, he became just the second Australian to break the 10-second barrier for the 100m, clocking 9.98 seconds in Nairobi with the aid of a legal tailwind, a milestone that underscored his status among the country’s sprinting elite.
Kennedy’s emergence has come alongside a wave of promising Australian sprinters. Nick Gout and Rohan Browning have also flirted with sub-10 performances this year. Gout’s two attempts of 9.99s at the national championships were disallowed due to illegal tailwinds, and his more recent 9.94s was hand-timed at a school meet and therefore not eligible for official recognition. Rohan Browning, similarly, has shown glimpses of world-class speed but is yet to post an officially ratified sub-10 time this season.
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw leaves selectors with difficult choices as Australia finalises its squad. With less than a month until the championships, which begin on 13 September, the Australian team faces increased pressure to confirm replacement plans and final lineups.
What this means for Tokyo
The simultaneous loss of a top sprinter and a medal-proven walker is a blow to Australia’s medal prospects and depth, particularly in events where experience and form matter greatly in championship settings. For Kennedy, the immediate focus will be rehabilitation and a measured return.
For Montag, the priority is long-term health and performance sustainability. Her medical team’s choice to operate, while painful in the short term, is aimed at preventing recurrence and protecting future championships and Olympic cycles.
Australia’s final Tokyo-bound team will be named next week. Athletics Australia now faces a short window to finalise entries, confirm replacements where needed, and ensure remaining athletes are prepared for championship competition.
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