‘Euphoric' Kennedy reveals Gout's private response to sub-10 feat

Perth Now

2 days ago

Australian sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy has shouted out his parents and publicly shared his next goal after the 'euphoric' feeling of running under 10 seconds in the 100m for the first time.
The 21-year-old ran 9.98 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya — into a slight 0.7m/s headwind and after a delay for a false start — with victory on the day making the feat even sweeter.
The first Australian to run a legal sub-10 since Patrick Johnson in 2003, Kennedy got there before friendly rivals Gout Gout and Rohan Browning after both went under the mark with illegal tailwinds in the summer.
Kennedy said he remains 'a bit disappointed' not to have broken 10 seconds on home soil but is simply overjoyed to do it now.
Knocking it over before the next two key dates on his calendar has only helped.
Kennedy will pick things up in the 200m at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike Meet in the Czech Republic on June 24 — against 'my old mate Gout'.
Gout is already locked in and inspired by his running mate's 100m performance.
'He messaged me. He was very happy for me, he was super stoked for me,' Kennedy told Sunrise on Tuesday.
'He was super supportive, super nice to me and he was just even more fired up to run this race in Czech Republic — as am I now, it's going to be cracking. It's going to be so fast, I really can't wait.' Lachie Kennedy and Gout Gout are both off to the Czech Republic this month and the world championships in September. Credit: Getty
Kennedy was speaking from London and will be on the move again soon for an Italian training camp with his coach Andrew Iselin.
And he couldn't be in a better position to press on from Kenya.
'I'm pretty sure my start the first time round wasn't great so I think it (the callback for a false start) actually helped me out, helped me ease the tension a bit,' Kennedy said.
'After I got that start out of the blocks, as soon as I came out of my transition I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was running with a different kind of form.
'I knew after that first 60 I was feeling great, I knew something special was about to happen.'
Achieving big things on the global stage is a far cry from his schoolboy rugby days, and he wants more at the world championships in September.
'The goal this year is definitely to make that world champ final in the 100 — and once I'm in the final I think anything can happen,' Kennedy said.
'I'm just taking every year and every race as it comes. I'm getting better with each run, with each race I do. Everything's adding up in the confidence bank.
'Even this 200 against Gout will just be more experience, more memories and more opportunities to put down some good times.'
But Kennedy's first sub-10 has served as a chance to stop and appreciate those closest to him.
'I know you see your dad as someone who has the best work ethic in the world. Your mum has helped you manage Type 1 Diabetes. What are they thinking about all of this?' Matt Shirvington, who chased the magical sub-10 in his sprinting career, asked.
Kennedy said Adam and Rachael 'couldn't believe it'.
'None of us really ever thought this was going to be a possibility,' he said.
'We knew I was going to run and do great things but to run nine seconds, only two Australians have ever done it under legal conditions.
'It's nuts. My dad and mum were telling me their phone's been blowing up from people they didn't even know were still in contact with them.
'I think they're enjoying it, I think they're having fun with it. It's just super exciting time, shoutout to mum and dad.
'They raised me right and I would not be where I am right now without them and their continued support.'