Lachie Kennedy Breaks the 10-second 100m Barrier

Lachie Kennedy after his historic run. Picture: Australian Olympic Committee.

Sprint star Lachie Kennedy has joined one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs as just the second Australian to legally better the 10-second barrier for the 100m.

Competing at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), Kennedy claimed the win against a strong field, stopping the clock at 9.98 seconds with the aid of a slight 0.7m tailwind.

Teen sensation Gout Gout and Rohan Browning have also recently threatened to go sub-10 on multiple occasions, but it’s the 21-year-old Kennedy who has reached the magic milestone first.

The only other Australian to achieve the celebrated feat was national record holder Patrick Johnson, who ran a sizzling 9.93 in Japan in 2003.

Kennedy relegated Paris Olympics relay silver medallist Bayanda Walaza from South Africa (10.03) and hometown hero Ferdinand Omanyala (10.07) to the minor placings with times of 10.03 and 10.07.

Kennedy first shot to international prominence when he pocketed silver in the 60m at the World Indoors in China in March.

At the same meet, Browning won the senior final by equalling his personal best of 10.01 and Gout twice clocked wind-assisted times of 9.99 in the under-20 100m.

Kennedy and Gout are both scheduled to race the 200m in the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on 24 June.