Gout Gout has become the third Australian sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 metres, clocking 9.99 seconds twice on a thrilling day at the national athletics championships in Perth. However, the 17-year-old’s record-breaking times—once in the heat and again in the final—won’t be officially recognised due to illegal tailwinds.
Illegal Tailwind Overshadows Remarkable Feat
The excitement was palpable as Gout claimed the Australian under-20 100m title with ease. Yet the moment was slightly marred when the wind gauge flashed a tailwind of 2.6m/s in the final, well over the legal limit of 2.0m/s. His earlier heat time, also 9.99s, came with an even stronger tailwind of 3.5m/s.
Despite the conditions, Gout remained upbeat. “Sometimes it’s frustrating, but you know, you can’t control what you can’t control, and the wind is obviously a thing you can’t control,” he said.
Joining an Elite Group of Sprinters
With his performance, Gout joins an elite club of Australians to have broken the 10-second mark in any conditions. The only other two to achieve the feat are Patrick Johnson, who ran 9.88s with a 3.6m/s tailwind in 2003, and Rohan Browning, who recorded 9.96s with a 3.3m/s tailwind in 2021.
Johnson’s 2003 legal time of 9.93s remains the official Australian record.
Eyes on the 200m and the Future
Gout opted to compete in the under-20 100m category but is also set to compete in the senior 200m event on Sunday, where he holds the national record of 20.04s set last December. He’ll face off against 21-year-old Lachie Kennedy, who recently bested him at the Maurie Plant meet.
“Sub-10 is something every sprinter hopes for and to get this early in the season is definitely great. It boosts my confidence, especially for my main event, the 200,” Gout said.
Record Crowds and Media Attention
Thursday’s event drew large crowds and unprecedented media interest, with approximately 80 accredited journalists and photographers—triple the number from the previous year—flooding the West Australian Athletics Stadium.
“This is what Athletics Australia needs,” Gout said. “This is what we train for.”
Standout Performances in the 1500m
Elsewhere at the meet, Paris Olympics silver medallist Jessica Hull edged Georgia Griffith in her 1500m heat despite having just returned from Jamaica days earlier, via New York and Hong Kong.
In the men’s heats, 18-year-old Cameron Myers impressed with a commanding win in 3:38.20. National record holder Olli Hoare and defending champion Adam Spencer also claimed victory in their respective heats.
Paralympians Set World Records
Paralympian Reece Langdon delivered one of the most inspiring moments of the day by setting a world record in the T38 1500m classification, finishing in 3:46.83 despite battling illness just hours before the race.
“I was vomiting in the shower… I almost scratched, thinking I’d embarrass myself,” Langdon admitted.
Long jumper Vanessa Low also made history in the T61 classification, leaping 5.71m to surpass her previous world record of 5.45m.
A New Era of Australian Athletics
With emerging talents like Gout Gout and record-setting Paralympians captivating crowds, the national championships are proving to be a showcase for Australia’s next generation of track and field stars. The stage is now set for more thrilling performances as the event continues in Perth.
