Wild scenes as Aussie sprint superstar Gout Gout stuns the sporting world AGAIN with second major milestone within days

By JUSTIN CHADWICK FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Australian rising star Gout Gout has created more worldwide headlines with a remarkable run of 19.84 seconds in the 200m sprint – albeit with an illegal tailwind.

Gout’s 200m showdown with Lachie Kennedy at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth on Sunday was set to be the highlight of the meet.

But there was huge drama in the final when Kennedy was disqualified for a false start, leaving Gout as the centre of attention.

The 17-year-old didn’t disappoint, burning up the track to win in a remarkable 19.84 seconds, with Aidan Murphy a distant second in 20.40.

Gout celebrated wildly after seeing his time, but he faced a nervous wait to see if the tailwind was a legal 2m/s or less.

Unfortunately for Gout the reading was 2.2m/s, meaning his time doesn’t stand as an official record.

Nevertheless, Gout’s 200m run is the fastest ever recorded by an Australian – wind-assisted or not – and will further put his name up in lights on the worldwide stage. 

In a great show of sportsmanship, Kennedy made his way down the track to give Gout a congratulatory hug. 

Gout Gout reacts after winning the 200m final with a blistering time of 19.84 on Sunday 

Gout Gout celebrates with his coach Di Sheppard after a successful Australian Athletics Championship meet

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.

Kennedy arrived in Perth with his heart set on breaking the 10-second mark in the 100m sprint.

He posted 10.00 in his first heat in a race where he eased up at the death.

‘I’m sad I didn’t crack 10,’ Kennedy said.

‘But there’ll be plenty of opportunities to crack 10 down the line, so I’m not too stressed about it.’

On a busy final day of the championships, Kurtis Marschall won the men’s pole vault with a height of 5.71m, well short of the 6m he was aiming for heading into the meet.

Three-time Olympian Peter Bol set an Australian record for the 800m with a time of 1:43.79, ahead of Peyton Craig (1:44.07) and Luke Boyes (1:44.50), which were world qualifier times.

Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers won the women’s high jump with a leap of 2.01m.

Gout’s 200m run is the fastest ever recorded by an Australian – wind-assisted or not

Arch rival Lachlan Kennedy (left) was one of the first to congratulate his Queensland teammate

Olyslagers holds the Australian record of 2.03m, and narrowly failed to clear 2.05m in Perth on Sunday. 

Olympic bronze medallist Eleanor Patterson finished second with 1.97m.

Jessica Hull will be aiming to back up her 1500m success with victory in the women’s 5000m final.

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Wild scenes as Aussie sprint superstar Gout Gout stuns the sporting world AGAIN with second major milestone within days

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