For decades, when you thought of Australian sport, images of cricket pitches, packed rugby stadiums, and AFL clashes came to mind. Track and field, not so much.
But times have changed, and so has the face of Australian sprinting. Lachlan Kennedy, 21-year-old speedster redefining what’s possible for Aussie sprinters on the world stage.
The signs of Australia’s sprinting surge began with teenage prodigy Gout Gout, whose blistering times at just 16 years old had the athletics world whispering about “the next Usain Bolt.” But while Gout’s star seemed to go dim for a brief moment, it was Kennedy who seized the spotlight, and the stopwatch.
The 9.98 Moment That Changed Everything
On June 2nd, 2025, at Nairobi’s famed Kip Keino Classic, Kennedy made history. Clocking a jaw-dropping 9.98 seconds in the 100 meters, he became only the second Australian sprinter to legally break the 10-second barrier.
He marked that moment’s significance by leaving Olympic relay medalist Bayanda Walaza and Africa’s sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala trailing.
“It wasn’t like he ran against people we didn’t know… Walaza and Omanyala had both been in top form,” respected coach Rodney Green said on the Ready Set Go podcast.
“And he went out there and put that 9.98 down. He is real.”
Former world champion Justin Gatlin weighed in, praising Kennedy’s hunger and drive.
“He doesn’t want to be a one-hit wonder. He’s not comfortable with just being the fastest Australian. He wants to be in that World Championship final, representing his country.”
From Indoor Silver to International Respect
Kennedy’s Kenyan heroics didn’t come out of nowhere. Earlier in the year, he earned a silver medal in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in China, proving that his rise was no fluke. Every stride he’s taken since has cemented his reputation as Australia’s new sprinting talisman.
While younger talents like Gout Gout continue to electrify crowds, including his wind-assisted 19.84s 200m at the Australian Championships, it’s Kennedy’s consistent, legal, and high-stakes performances that have placed him firmly at the top of the national sprinting conversation.
A Rivalry Australia Needed
Perhaps the most thrilling storyline in Australian athletics right now is the friendly but fierce rivalry between Kennedy and Gout. Their clash at the Maurie Plant Meet in March saw Kennedy narrowly edge Gout in a thrilling 200m finish, clocking a personal best of 20.26s to Gout’s 20.30s. But the drama didn’t stop there.
At the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, Kennedy false-started and was disqualified, leaving Gout to seize victory with that controversial wind-aided 19.84s. The two would cross paths again at the Stawell Gift, where handicaps played their part, but both showcased their blistering form.
Despite the growing competition, the camaraderie between them is genuine. Gout has publicly celebrated Kennedy’s success, and both sprinters recognize that their friendly rivalry is propelling them, and Australian sprinting, into unprecedented territory.
The Road to Tokyo and Beyond
With the World Championships in Tokyo just months away, Kennedy’s eyes are set on more than just being Australia’s fastest. He wants to line up in that World Championship final, shoulder-to-shoulder with the planet’s quickest men. And if his current form is anything to go by, he’s well on his way.
Their next head-to-head is locked in for June 24 at the Ostrava Golden Spike Meet in the 200m. With the world watching, it’s not just about national bragging rights, it’s about announcing to the sprinting world that Australia isn’t just showing up anymore. They’re here to win.
