Kennedy versus Gout duel back on for 200m men's final
Sprint stars Lachie Kennedy and Gout Gout are into the 200m final after easing through their respective heats at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth.
Gout eased up slightly at the end but was still able to post a strong time of 20.21 seconds to win heat one at the WA Athletics Stadium on Sunday.
Kennedy posted 20.85 in heat two, but slowed up even more than Gout at the end in a bid to save himself for the afternoon's final.
Aidan Murphy beat Kennedy to the line with a time of 20.52.
Ultra impressive from Aidan Murphy 💪Lachie Kennedy claims the second automatic qualification spot to set up a rematch with Gout Gout 🔥Men's 200m Final 5pm AEST 👉 https://t.co/bOYZZUfUdU pic.twitter.com/KycFy069uM
— 7Sport (@7Sport) April 13, 2025
Kennedy had cast doubt on his participation in the 200m after finishing second in the 100m final on Saturday night, saying he would wait until Sunday morning before determining if he was fit enough to run.
"I'm definitely sore, definitely a little tight, but we'll see how we pull up tomorrow," Kennedy said on Saturday night.
"It will sort of be like a vibe thing, like how the body feels, how the legs feel. If they're feeling tight just walking around, I'll probably call it "
The fact Kennedy slowed up so much at the end of his 200m heat on Sunday is a good sign he is saving himself for the final in what shapes as yet another mouth-watering battle against Gout.
Gout Gout in cruise control 😎He's into the 200m Final at 5pm AEST Do not miss it 👉 https://t.co/bOYZZUfUdU pic.twitter.com/PLy7ECpj0l
— 7Sport (@7Sport) April 13, 2025
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.
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.
Rohan Browning WINS the 100 final in an equal PB of 10.01 from Lachie Kennedy ... just!What a race 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fPB30YEpBy
— 7Sport (@7Sport) April 12, 2025
And in a final for the ages, Rohan Browning posted 10.01 (.001) to pip Kennedy's 10.01 (.006) in a dramatic photo finish on Saturday night.
"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 will be aiming to break through the 6m barrier for the first time when he competes in the men's pole vault final.
Three-time Olympian Peter Bol will do battle with Peyton Craig and Luke Boyes in the 800m final, and Olympic medallists Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson headline the women's high jump.
Jessica Hull will be aiming to back up her 1500m success with victory in the women's 5000m final.
Cameron Myers will also be aiming to complete the 1500m-5000m double when he competes in the men's final.
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