Lachie Kennedy, the 22-year-old Australian sprinter, is setting his sights on breaking the national 100-meter record, a mark that has stood for over two decades. Kennedy expressed his belief that the time is ripe for the record to be surpassed and feels he is the athlete poised to achieve this milestone. His ambition is fueled by a deep-seated drive for excellence, where the pursuit of a perfectly executed race against elite competition surpasses the simple joy of victory.
Kennedy has consistently demonstrated his prowess on the track, clocking six of the top ten fastest times ever recorded by an Australian in the 100m. In the past two years, his only domestic defeat came by a razor-thin margin of 0.005 seconds at the national championships, where he finished second to Rohan Browning. This near-miss only intensified his resolve.
“I don’t enjoy losing in any form or aspect, so when I’m against fast people, I know I need to bring my A game if I want to win,” Kennedy stated. “Almost as much as I don’t like losing, I love the pressure as well.” This embrace of high-stakes competition has defined his recent ascent in the sport.
Emergence of a New Sprint Star
Over the last 18 months, Kennedy has emerged as a prominent figure in a new wave of Australian track and field talent. His international breakthrough came with a silver medal in the 60m at the indoor world championships in March of the previous year. This was followed by a significant achievement: running the second-ever legal sub-10-second 100m race by an Australian.
Domestically, the emergence of fellow sprinter Gout Gout has created a compelling rivalry, pushing Kennedy to new heights. This dynamic culminated in April when Kennedy secured his first national 100m championship title, a victory that also qualified him for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Challenging a Long-Standing Record
The national 100m record, held by Patrick Johnson, has been a benchmark for Australian sprinters for many years. However, recent statistics indicate a significant shift, with 35 of the top 93 Australian 100m times recorded since the beginning of last year. Kennedy’s own sub-10-second performances, a 9.96 and a 9.98, are the only legal ones in this elite category.
“Records are meant to be broken,” Kennedy asserted. “Patrick Johnson’s record’s stood for longer than I’ve been alive, so I think it’s about time that record goes.” He has also spoken with admiration for past Australian sprint legends, noting their continued support for the current generation.
Support from Sprint Legends
Kennedy has met with Patrick Johnson and found him to be a supportive figure, eager to see his record surpassed. Matt Shirvington, another prominent Australian sprinter from previous eras, has also offered significant encouragement and advice. Both athletes, Kennedy noted, remain deeply involved in the sport and are keen to see its continued growth.
“They’re all good blokes and really just want the best for the sport,” Kennedy remarked. “They love it and they’re still around it. You can tell how much they love it because they’re paying all this attention to it. They’re still involved in the sport heavily.” He values their insights on managing pressure and race execution, recognizing their unique experience.
The Underdog Mentality on the World Stage
While Kennedy is a recognized figure and a target for domestic rivals, he embraces the role of an underdog when competing internationally. This mindset, he believes, brings out his best performance.
“I like lining up against the world’s best and not being a favourite; I like being a smoky, I like being an underdog. It’s a good feeling, it’s exciting, it’s intense, it’s pretty raw,” he explained. “The extreme focus [of] competing against the world’s best, I live for those moments. I wanna run against the world’s best.”
Upcoming Challenges and Aspirations
Kennedy is set to compete at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, an event that will pit him against some of the fastest sprinters globally. Although a planned matchup with Gout Gout was canceled due to Gout’s back soreness, the field remains formidable. It includes top contenders such as Oblique Seville and Kayinsola Ajayi, Olympic medalist Kenny Bednarek, Diamond League winner Gift Leotlela, former world champion Christian Coleman, and veteran Trayvon Bromell.
Kennedy acknowledges that many in the Prefontaine field have superior personal bests and international accolades. However, he thrives on such challenges, stating, “I want to have to run my best race in order to win. You don’t want to run a bad race and win, it’s kind of unsatisfying. But if you run a really good race and you win, that’s the best feeling in the world.” He added that even a strong performance that results in a second-place finish serves as motivation to continue improving.
Commonwealth Games Focus
Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Kennedy anticipates facing several of the athletes he will meet in Eugene, including Seville, Ackeem Blake, Gift Leotlela, and Kayinsola Ajayi. He also expects to compete against Eddie Nketia, who recently switched allegiance to Australia, and Rohan Browning.
Gout Gout’s decision to prioritize the U20 World Championships over the Commonwealth Games means a highly anticipated domestic showdown will not occur. Kennedy, however, is looking forward to his potential first race against Nketia, the New Zealand 100m record holder. Nketia has also achieved multiple sub-10-second times with assistance from tailwinds and has a legal personal best of 10.06 seconds.
“I look forward to our first race; hopefully it is that Commonwealth Games final,” Kennedy said. “How awesome would that be, having two Australians in the Commonwealth Games final? And maybe we both get a medal; it’d be historic, it’d be awesome.” He believes such contests are vital for the sport’s visibility and appeal.
“They’re the things you live for, it’s what you train for,” Kennedy concluded. “I just think it’s good for the sport, good for the fans, good for the athletes. The more excitement, the more eyes on it, the better it is for everyone.” The 100m events at the Commonwealth Games are scheduled to begin on July 27, with finals taking place on the morning of July 29 (AEST).
