2 weeks Ago By Harrison Reid
Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout has survived two false starts to claim the Australian national men’s 200m title with a blistering time of 19.84 in Perth on Sunday. The teenager’s closest competitor, Lachlan Kennedy, who upset Gout at the Maurie Plant Meet last month , was sadly disqualified for movement on the blocks ahead of the first false start, denying athletics fans of the mouth-watering rematch they so desperately craved.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gout Gout wins men’s national 200m title. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The stadium’s collective heart was then in its mouth when a second false start was called, but relief soon came as a green card warning was issued to the remaining runners. When they finally got away cleanly, Gout left the rest of the field in his wake, bounding away after the bend to move past sprinting legends Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin and Letsile Tebogo in the under-20 all-conditions history books.
Only American Erriyon Knighton has recorded a quicker time over 200 metres in any conditions under the age of 20. With a wind assistance of +2.2, his 19.
84 won’t count as an official personal best or Australian record, but it doesn’t make his historic run any less great. “It won’t count in terms of a record, but what it will do, is say, ‘Hey world, this is me!’” Mitch Dyer said on commentary for Channel 7. “This kid is everything that we think he is.
” Dave Culbert added: “Well, the crowd here rising to their feet, as they should. “The wind, the wind is the devil here in Perth. It has delivered disappointment once again for Gout — he’s just seen it (the wind reading).
He can’t believe it. “What he did then in the final 50 metres was extraordinary.” In a touching moment after the race, Kennedy, walking back from the start line with an official, came to embrace Gout in celebration.
The pair ran towards each other at the finish line and hugged three times, to the cheers of the crowd. “Here’s Lachie Kennedy, who I say thank you to you, Lachie,” Culbert said. Dyer added: “That’s what Australian athletics is everybody; don’t try and build a rivalry that doesn’t exist in terms of animosity — these guys love each other.
“Geez, they want to get the best out of each other. But the gauntlet’s been put down, hasn’t it?” Speaking to Channel 7 after the race, Gout said he was over the moon with his performance. “It feels pretty good, that’s what I’ve been chasing,” he said.
Asked about the pair of false starts, the 17-year-old said it was a bit unnerving. “I was a bit nervous, but in my head, I’m just keeping my composure, keeping calm, because this stuff happens, you can’t really control it, so I just made sure I didn’t false start or be unsteady, and I took off,” he said. Gout broke Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian 200m record late last year when he clocked 20.
04 seconds — a time faster than sprint king Usain Bolt ran at the same age (20.13). But Kennedy earned bragging rights over his 17-year-old rival last month when he posted a time of 20.
26 to beat Gout by four-tenths of a second at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne..
