Latest news with #Nairobi


Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Aussie sprint superstar secures big win over his rival Gout Gout as Queenslander joins one of the sport's most exclusive clubs
Sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy has joined one of Australian sport's most exclusive clubs as just the second Aussie 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 Mito, Japan in 2003. Previously, Gout has run a wind-assisted sub-10-second 100m race. Kennedy, though, is the first to do so legally. 'I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super-stoked to get the win and the time,' Kennedy said. 'It's so good. I can finally say I have run nine! 'I haven't wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually.' 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. 'The crowd was nuts out there. I think there was early movement from someone in the first part of the race, but it actually did me good. It settled the nerves so I was pretty confident out there today,' Kennedy said. 'I didn't think a nine was realistic until a couple of years ago. When I was still playing rugby but starting to train and realising I had some speed, I made it the goal.' Kennedy first shot to international prominence when he pocketed silver in the 60m at the World Indoors in China in March. The main target for him and his friendly rival and fellow Queenslander Gout this year is the world championships in Tokyo in September. 'I'm getting better with every race,' said Kennedy. 'It's an advantage to have a long season at home. 'I'm not getting tired, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the world championships.' Kennedy and Gout are both scheduled to race the 200m in the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike Mett in the Czech Republic on June 24.


CNA
a day ago
- General
- CNA
Kennedy becomes first Australian to crack 10 second barrier in 22 years
Lachlan Kennedy became the first Australian sprinter to legally break the 10-second barrier for the 100 metres in more than two decades when he won the sprint event at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday. Kennedy crossed the line in 9.98 seconds to join national record holder Patrick Johnson as the only Australian to have dipped under the 10-second mark and the first to do so in 22 years. "I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super stoked to get the win and the time," Kennedy said. "It's so good. I can finally say I run 9! I haven't wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually." Kennedy had been locked in a battle with teenage rival Gout Gout to become the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier since Johnson set the national record of 9.93 seconds at the Mito International meet in Japan in 2003. Gout has run a wind-assisted sub-10-second 100 metres but Kennedy is the first of the pair to do so legally, having previously run 10 seconds flat in the heats of the Australian championships in Perth in April. "I'm getting better with every race," the 21-year-old told Australian Athletics. "It's an advantage to have a long season at home. I'm not getting tired, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the World Championships."


Reuters
a day ago
- General
- Reuters
Kennedy becomes first Australian to crack 10 second barrier in 22 years
June 1 (Reuters) - Lachlan Kennedy became the first Australian sprinter to legally break the 10-second barrier for the 100 metres in more than two decades when he won the sprint event at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday. Kennedy crossed the line in 9.98 seconds to join national record holder Patrick Johnson as the only Australian to have dipped under the 10-second mark and the first to do so in 22 years. "I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super stoked to get the win and the time," Kennedy said. "It's so good. I can finally say I run 9! I haven't wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually." Kennedy had been locked in a battle with teenage rival Gout Gout to become the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier since Johnson set the national record of 9.93 seconds at the Mito International meet in Japan in 2003. Gout has run a wind-assisted sub-10-second 100 metres but Kennedy is the first of the pair to do so legally, having previously run 10 seconds flat in the heats of the Australian championships in Perth in April. "I'm getting better with every race," the 21-year-old told Australian Athletics. "It's an advantage to have a long season at home. I'm not getting tired, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the World Championships."


The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Sprint sensation Lachie Kennedy breaks magical 10-second barrier for 100m
Sprint sensation 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. How about that ‼️🇦🇺's Lachlan Kennedy rules at the @KipKeinoClassic 🔥 9.98 PB to win the 100m and move up to 2nd on the Australian all-time list 👏 #ContinentalTourGold The only other Australian to achieve the celebrated feat was national record holder Patrick Johnson, who ran a sizzling 9.93 in Mito, Japan in 2003. 'I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super-stoked to get the win and the time,' Kennedy said. 'It's so good. I can finally say I have run nine. 'I haven't wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually.' 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. 'The crowd was nuts out there,' Kennedy said. 'I think there was early movement from someone in the first part of the race, but it actually did me good. It settled the nerves so I was pretty confident out there today. 'I didn't think a nine was realistic until a couple of years ago. When I was still playing rugby but starting to train and realising I had some speed, I made it the goal.' Kennedy first shot to international prominence when he pocketed silver in the 60m at the World Indoors in China in March. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion The main target for him and his friendly rival and fellow Queenslander Gout this year is the world championships in Tokyo in September. 'I'm getting better with every race,' said Kennedy. 'It's an advantage to have a long season at home. 'I'm not getting tired, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the world championships.' Kennedy and Gout are both scheduled to race the 200m in the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike Mett in the Czech Republic on 24 June.


Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy breaks 100m 10-second barrier with blistering run
Aussie sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy etched his name in the history books after becoming only the second Australian to run under the 10 second mark in a 100m race. Kennedy, 21, ran 9.98-seconds in the Men's 100m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya overnight - becoming the first Aussie to manage the feat since Patrick Johnson in 2003. 'As soon as I saw the 9.98 I was thrilled, the feeling was so surreal. I couldn't believe it,' Kennedy said. 'I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super stoked to get the win and the time. 'It's so good. I can finally say I run 9! I haven't wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually. 'I've got a good coach (Andrew Iselin), good training partners — shoutout to Calab Law — and a good S&C (strength and conditioning) and team around me. How about that ‼️ 🇦🇺's Lachlan Kennedy rules at the @KipKeinoClassic 🔥 9.98 PB to win the 100m and move up to 2nd on the Australian all-time list 👏 #ContinentalTourGold — World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) May 31, 2025 'It's been about trusting the process.' Kennedy's exciting breakthrough has sent shockwaves through Aussie athletics, with former stars posting about the run. 'Enormous,' posted Matt Shirvington on Instagram. Yes yes yes,' wrote Sally Pearson. Kennedy is part of a group of young sprinters, that includes schoolboy star Gout Gout, who have been chasing the 10 second mark. Kennedy wasn't bothered by a false start during his historic race. 'I think there was early movement from someone in the first part of the race, but it actually did me good. It settled the nerves so I was pretty confident out there today,' he revealed. 'I didn't think a nine was realistic until a couple of years ago. When I was still playing rugby but starting to train and realising I had some speed, I made it the goal. 'I'm getting better with every race. It's an advantage to have a long season at home. I'm not getting tired, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can achieve later in the year as we get closer to the World Championships.'