Bang! The Instant Before Stardom

<p> Around five years back, long before this time, The evening he kept Gout Gout at bay as it quickly closed in. to make his presence known to Australia, Lachie Kennedy He was barreling through a rugby field when he initially left spectators astounded. </p> <p> "There was a bit of a play down the right-hand side and he was just off and gone," Tyron Mandrusiak, the long-time director of rugby at Brisbane's St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, recalls to Wide World of Sports. </p> <p> Kennedy, addressing WWOS prior to this week's national event, athletics titles, recalls the play quite clearly. </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> Schoolgirl shatters 57-year record previously held by Raelene Boyle </strong> </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> Prominent agent harshes his client publicly on television </strong> </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> Panthers find themselves 'in the crosshairs' with English clubs showing interest in their star player </strong> </p> <p> Kennedy recalls, "A player hits the ball towards me, my friend who has a damaged calf muscle manages to catch it just before falling down. He quickly passes it backwards, and I circle around to find myself evading everyone else and scoring." </p> <p> It was an end-to-end effort, allowing those watching at The Southport School on the Gold Coast, including a wide-eyed Mandrusiak, just over 10 seconds to witness the youngster, who was in Year 10 at the time, sprinting at top speed. </p> <p> "Without a doubt, that was my most spectacular performance. Just recalling it gives me chills," Kennedy says with pride. </p> <p> "Bang. Away he went. And that’s all there was to it," according to Mandrusiak. </p> <p> Nobody was catching up with him. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1CyvFW" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1CyvFW.jpg"/> <p> At the 200 meters event during the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne earlier last month, the scenario was as follows: Gout catching him. </p> <p> Kennedy, a silver medalist at the World Indoor Championships in the 60m , would burst from the starting blocks, sprint into the straight ahead, only to be overtaken at the finish line by his younger opponent, as planned. </p> <p> As destiny would have it, the scriptwriters nailed everything except for the ending. </p> <p> Kennedy, a blisteringly fast starter, staved off his 17-year-old rival — Gout's Achilles heel is his cumbersome start — to win by four hundredths of a second. </p> <p> The thrilling race, attended by around 10,000 spectators at Lakeside Stadium and watched by an additional 1.2 million viewers on primetime television, sets the stage for an enticing rematch at the national championships in Perth. </p> <p> Kennedy is sharpening his focus on the championships with ambitious goals. The 21-year-old not only aims to show that his victory over Gout was more than just luck, but also hopes to break through the 10-second mark in the 100 meters and dip below 20 seconds in the 200 meters. </p> <p> In fact, he wants to break the Australian record in the 100m, the 9.93 set by Patrick Johnson in Japan in 2003, and the national record in the 200m, The 20.04 created by Gout when he was merely 16 years old in Brisbane last December. . </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BTwjM" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BTwjM.jpg"/> <p> Johnson still stands as the sole Australian to have crossed the finish line under 10 seconds in the 100m sprint under legitimate wind conditions. </p> <p> The sole Australian to have broken the 20-second barrier in the 200m is Gatlin, even though he had an illegal amount of wind assistance during his run. </p> <p> Gout will participate in the 100m race at the national championships, competing in the under-20 category. There’s also a good possibility he could break through the 10-second mark. </p> <p> Speaking to WWOS over the phone, Kennedy spells out his goals with an air of confidence. </p> <p> However, there’s no trace of arrogance; rather, an intriguing sense of unshakable self-assurance. </p> <p> "I believe it’s just a question of when I’ll run under 10 seconds. Whether during the heats, semifinals, or finals at the championships, it will happen sooner or later," states Kennedy, who recently recorded a time of 10.03 seconds in Perth, assisted by a favorable tailwind of +1.1 meters per second. </p> <p> My main priority is the 100 meters. I aim to clock under 10 seconds and secure the Australian record for the 100 meters. If all goes well and I feel energetic, I might also participate in the 200 meters. </p> <p> I am really eager to claim victory in the 200 meters race and my aim is to finish under 20 seconds. </p> <p> I aim to complete the 200 meters in 19 seconds and the 100 meters in nine seconds… That would be amazing. I believe I can achieve it. </p> <p> My body feels amazing, and I'm running with tons of confidence. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1Cyxud" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1Cyxud.jpg"/> <p> Andrew Iselin, Kennedy's coach, is equally certain that he will break the 10-second barrier this week. </p> <p> "Absolutely, without a doubt," Iselin informs WWOS. </p> <p> I'd be shocked if he wasn’t involved. </p> <p> When asked about his history with sprinting and rugby, Kennedy responds appropriately. </p> <p> The speedster remarks, 'I’ll provide you with a brief overview,' </p> <p> To put it briefly, he participated in rugby from the under-six teams all the way through his final year of high school. Not surprisingly, he held the position of wing. </p> <p> Mandrusiak remarks, "It would be hard to guess that he was destined for the Wallabies," but adds, "he definitely possessed remarkable speed, and once he managed to get the ball with room to move, he became incredibly difficult to tackle." </p> <p> He experimented with sprinting during his later primary school days and early high school years, took a break from it for a few years, and then came back to the track when he was in Year 11. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1CyBSU" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1CyBSU.jpg"/> <p> I initially played football casually during Year 11," Kennedy remembers, "but after being promoted to the second team, their coach noticed my speed and suggested, ‘Hey, you should join the school’s track team.’ </p> <p> In September during my Year 12, I clocked a time of 10.51 seconds and thought to myself, 'Hey, looks like I’m pretty good at running'. </p> <p> After finishing school, I thought to myself, 'Do I take football seriously or focus on athletics? I believe I excel more in track events'. </p> <p> Once you experience the thrill of speed and race victories, you can never seem to get enough. </p> <p> When Kennedy came back to sprinting, Anthony Hayward was overseeing the track and field program at Gregory Terrace. </p> <p> "I recall thinking, 'It’s incredible watching him run, and he certainly has a promising future ahead of him if he keeps going,'" Hayward tells WWOS. </p> <p> He was an outstanding runner… He turned out to be quite unexpected. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1CyvG1" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1CyvG1.jpg"/> <p> Iselin, a sprint coach at Gregory Terrace, initially met Kennedy when the Brisbane schoolboy rejoined track and field in Year 11. </p> <p> "We were aware of his speed, but quick rugby players are quite common," Iselin remarks. </p> <p> However, once he truly made that move during his Year 12, it was clear he possessed something extraordinary. </p> <p> He’s every coach’s ideal player. </p> <p> "Nice kid, relax," Iselin says. </p> <p> He is highly trainable; he grasps every concept. </p> <p> Rugby athletes usually tend to be more rugged compared to sprinters… He’s quite a resilient coach. You simply need to rein him in occasionally. </p> <p> You notice plenty of talented individuals passing through who lack the same degree of dedication. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1Bou2D" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1Bou2D.jpg"/> <p> Eight months prior, Kennedy first competed at the Olympics in Paris as part of the 4x100m relay squad. However, this year marks his breakout season. </p> <p> In Canberra during January, he recorded a time of 6.43 seconds in the 60 meters, thereby claiming the national record from sprint legend Matt Shirvington. </p> <p> In March, in the Chinese city of Nanjing, he won the silver medal in the 60m event at the World Indoor Championships. However, this competition lacked both the 60m world-record holder Christian Coleman and the defending 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles. Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu secured the top spot, beating him by merely a hundredth of a second. </p> <p> Later in March, in Melbourne, he faced off against Gout in the young phenom's favorite event, where he achieved an upset victory. </p> <p> Kennedy’s agent, Nic Bideau, informs WWOS that Gout has already demonstrated his status as a high-caliber athlete. </p> <p> However, now we have a pair of them; not merely one. </p> <p> Heads up, we have Kennedy with us. </p>

Bang! The Instant Before Stardom

Around five years back, long before this time, The evening he kept Gout Gout at bay as it quickly closed in. to make his presence known ...

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Gabby Thomas Clears Her Name After Tormenting Doubts Over Grand Slam Track Decision

<p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1CmAWz" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1CmAWz.jpg"/> </p> <p> <p> Gabby Thomas became historic as the inaugural winner. during the inaugural Grand Slam Track competition On Friday, following his struggle with the "tough choice" to compete in the 200m and 400m sprints. </p> <p> Thomas blazed to victory In the 200 meters with a time of 22.62 seconds, she secured 12 points and positioned herself for a possible $100,000 reward in the women's long sprint events. Olympian managed to narrowly beat Marileidy Paulino in the competition, even though neither Sha'Carri Richardson nor Noah Lyles were present at the event , since both chose to opt out. </p> <p> This fresh athletics competition groups some of the globe's top sprinters together, challenging them across two distances, with points awarded based on their finish. Thomas was caught in a dilemma over choosing between the short sprints group (100m/200m) and the long sprints, ultimately opting for the latter. </p> <p> <b> READ MORE: </b> Patrick Reed offers candid assessment of Donald Trump's course following LIV Golf Miami round </p> <p> <b> READ MORE: </b> PGA Tour star waited an hour for Min Woo Lee chat after Houston Open controversy </p> <p> "It was a challenging choice to make." Clearly, I have the option for short sprints or longer ones, and my coach and I had a discussion where we decided which events I would participate in," Thomas explained. Citius Mag The 400 meters is somewhat more enjoyable to race at the beginning of the season, but ultimately, it wasn't significant. </p> <p> When I consider competing against Salwa Eid Naser and Paulino, I realize this will push me immensely; it’s bound to be an arduous contest where I’ll test my limits facing only the top athletes. Embracing this challenge head-on, I’m ready for whatever comes, with luck propelling me to excel under pressure. </p> <p> Thomas is excelling in the 200 meters and has put forth a strong showing in the 400 meters, positioning herself strongly for the top prize. In the 200 meters, where Thomas boasts her status as the reigning Olympic champion, lies her strongest event; meanwhile, competing in the 400 meters carries more uncertainty for this 28-year-old competitor. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1Cmtij" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1Cmtij.jpg"/> <p> I am quite confident about my pace, particularly in the 200 meters, which is my preferred race. I believe I'll be the frontrunner simply because it's what I excel at," Thomas said additionally. "It’s important to push your limits to achieve success. </p> <p> GST, under the co-founding eye of Michael Johnson, who won four Olympic golds, kicked off its inaugural event in Kingston, Jamaica on April 4. Throughout the year, athletes will compete in four series slams across Miami, Philadelphia , and Los Angeles , besides the opening city. This year, a prize pool of $12.6 million is up for grabs, offering athletes $100,000 for leading the pack, with diminishing returns based on their finish - but no one goes home empty-handed, as even last place secures a $10,000 purse. </p> <p> Each showdown will host 48 competitors squaring off against 48 challengers, with all racers contracted for a yearly salary plus potential winnings. Johnson, drawing from his sprinting days and the financial hurdles many face in athletics, aimed to create a lucrative sporting event through GST. </p> <p> "Most of the athletes suffer greatly because they aren't able to realize any value," Johnson said. "Those athletes end up in situations where, many years later, and sometimes even in their careers, they're wondering, 'Should I have made this choice? I love this sport, but I'm suffering financially, I'm suffering mentally trying to make a living in this sport." </p> <p> Johnson aims to take on the long-standing Diamond League and steer athletics towards a brighter future. Thomas heard about Johnson’s bold ambitions during the Paris Olympics and has fully supported him since then. She believes this could mark a significant shift for the sport. </p> <p> “I’m genuinely thrilled because my introduction to Grand Slam dates back ages, as far as I can recall from those early discussions during the Paris Olympics,” Thomas mentioned. “It was then that I first grasped the essence of this idea and found it utterly amazing. As an athlete with a passion for competition, I thrive when facing off against top-tier rivals, so I am eagerly anticipating seeing all these plans materialize.” </p> </p>

Gabby Thomas Clears Her Name After Tormenting Doubts Over Grand Slam Track Decision

Gabby Thomas became historic as the inaugural winner. during the inaugural Grand Slam Track competition On Friday, following hi...

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Why Gout's Historic Run Isn't Recognized as Legal in Australia

<p> Gout Gout claimed another slice of sprinting history in a meteoric run in Brisbane on Sunday by becoming the first Australian to run a 200m in less than 20 seconds. </p> <p> At the Queensland athletics championships, a 17-year-old wunderkind achieved a time of 19.98 seconds with an unlawful tailwind of +3.6 meters per second, making the result non-official. However, no other athlete from Australia has managed to complete a 200-meter race under 20 seconds in ideal conditions. </p> <p> In the under-20 final of the 200m, he dominated the competition, crossing the finish line 2.12 seconds before the runner-up. </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> A complete overhaul is required for the NRL's 'major disappointments.' </strong> </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> Devastated Piastri speaks out about 'embarrassment' in Melbourne </strong> </p> <p> <strong> READ MORE: </strong> <strong> Large AFL suspension splits match following disgusting crash </strong> </p> <p> The regulations state that for the 100m dash, 200m dash, 100m hurdles (for women), 110m hurdles (for men), long jump, triple jump, along with pertinent competitions in heptathlon and decathlon, the result will be considered unofficial if the wind speed exceeds two meters per second according to the anemometer reading. </p> <p> But the wind rule did little to quell the exhilaration surrounding Gout's busting of the 20-second barrier. Wind-assisted or not, a sub-20-second 200m is significant, especially for 17-year-olds and especially for Australian athletics. </p> <p> Gout became only the seventh Under-20 athlete in global history to break the record. </p> <p> Overjoyed, the Ipswich native lifted his arms skyward, pounded his chest, and let out a roar before a crowd that was ecstatic. He later celebrated with an affectionate and joyful hug for his coach, Diane Sheppard. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B0Ot3" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B0Ot3.jpg"/> <p> On Sunday morning, Gout zipped through his 200m heat with a time of 20.05, finishing over two seconds faster than the runner-up. </p> <p> This run has crowned Gout as the quickest globally for the 200 meters this year, surpassing the time of 20.13 set by Zimbabwe’s prodigy Makanakaishe Charamba in Texas just last month. </p> <p> Thanks to a favorable wind speed of +1.2 meters per second during his race, Gout surpassed the previous Australian open record for the 200m event, which stood at 20.06 seconds since Peter Norman achieved it at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. </p> <p> He narrowly missed out on setting a new national record — his time was 20.04, which he achieved in Brisbane back in December. </p> <p> That 20.04, set when he was just 16 years old, surpassed Usain Bolt's quickest time recorded at the same age. </p> <p> The Jamaican who has won eight Olympic gold medals achieved a personal best of 20.13 when he was 16 years old, and his quickest time at age 17 was 19.93. </p> <p> Gout provided a varied evaluation of his performance in Sunday's finale. </p> <p> He mentioned that his beginning was quite shaky, and frankly, after that, he didn’t really feel motivated to run. </p> <p> It felt really great. As I exited the curve, I just maintained my acceleration. I could sense the wind at my back, so I thought, 'I'll make use of it'. </p> <p> And then I glanced at the clock, and once it was rounded down to under 20 seconds, I simply couldn't have been more delighted. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B0OsU" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B0OsU.jpg"/> <p> Upon seeing the time, I felt genuine happiness and surprise, yet it also seemed as though a burden had been lifted from me. </p> <p> Since I’ve completed this task, I now need to maintain consistency in my efforts. </p> <p> He acknowledged the enthusiastic audience with a nod and spoke about the legendary Jamaican runner Bolt, who he is often likened to. </p> <p> "Gout expressed that it was an amazing feeling, recalling his own experience of seeing Usain Bolt on TV and getting chills," when discussing the audience's encouragement. </p> <p> Causing people to get goosebumps certainly feels amazing, and I hope to keep providing that experience because, absolutely, I want to give them even more. </p> <p> My heart felt empty as there wasn’t a crowd around. But once I finished warming up and stepped out for the finals, I glanced back and saw an enormous audience. Definitely made me sprint quicker. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B0Dvw" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B0Dvw.jpg"/> <p> Adding to the impressiveness of Making Gout’s two performances on Sunday was the fact that he had undergone merely a “slight” taper, according to his manager James Templeton who spoke with Wide World of Sports. </p> <p> Templeton was alongside the track, observing his protege soar. </p> <p> He exclaimed it was fantastic. </p> <p> "There was a lot of hype around the Queensland championships of course. It's fair to say he was the centre of attention today, but that's no big deal for him. </p> <p> He came out here with the aim of running quickly and performed exceptionally well today. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B0CJI" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B0CJI.jpg"/> <p> People supporting Gout think it’s only a question of time before he breaks through the 10-second mark in the 100 meters and hits below 20 seconds for the 200 meters under standard regulations. </p> <p> The Gout team is also gunning for the sprint double—gold medals in both the 100m and 200m—at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, when the Adidas-backed phenomenon will turn 24. </p> <p> The Wide World of Sports disclosed earlier this month that The eagerly awaited return of Gout to the Stawell Gift next month will be financed by the principal owner. In 2015, the racehorse that claimed victory in the Melbourne Cup was Prince of Penzance. </p> <p> WWOS also disclosed that another four prominent Australian sprinters—Lachlan Kennedy, Josh Azzopardi, Jack Hale, and Jacob Despard—are scheduled to compete in the well-known 120-meter dash at Stawell over the Easter long weekend, with a prize of $40,000 up for grabs. </p>

Why Gout's Historic Run Isn't Recognized as Legal in Australia

Gout Gout claimed another slice of sprinting history in a meteoric run in Brisbane on Sunday by becoming the first Australian to run a 20...

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World Athletics Introduces Exciting New Event! (International Edition)

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BMAlp" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BMAlp.jpg"/> <p> <strong> This week, the international athletics body declared that the 300 meters hurdles would be introduced as an official discipline at every championship. </strong> </p> <p> From now on, this entirely new hurdles event will have a global ranking system, allowing for an officially recognized world record moving forward. </p> <p> The Dutch athlete <strong> Femke Bol </strong> and Norway's <strong> Karsten Warholm </strong> They will consider this extremely positive news since both individuals excel at this discipline on a global scale. 36.86 No woman alive has ever run faster than her. <strong> Femke Bol </strong> across the 300-meter hurdles, and the Norwegian sensation <strong> Karsten Warholm </strong> also permits no rivalry with him 33.26 among men. </p> <p> (Raul Stiens - Photo: <strong> © </strong> Unsplash) </p>

World Athletics Introduces Exciting New Event! (International Edition)

This week, the international athletics body declared that the 300 meters hurdles would be introduced as an official discipline at ever...

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