Gout sets sights on Lyles race as sub-10 run eludes him
Joel Gould |
Gout Gout insists a sub-10 run will come soon as he sets his sights on racing against reigning Olympic 100m champion and US superstar Noah Lyles.
Gout ran 10.21 (+0.3 m/s ) in the U20s final of the 100m at the Australian Athletics Junior Championships in Brisbane on Saturday.
It was short of the 18-year-old sensation’s own legal personal best of 10.00 which he ran in February at the same Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) venue.
Gout said his sights were now on racing Lyles, his Adidas sponsor stablemate. A 150m showdown between the duo is understood to be scheduled for the Ostrava Golden Spike meet on June 16 in the Czech Republic.
“I reckon I will be racing him soon,” Gout said.
“It definitely means a lot, knowing I can go up against the Olympic champion and multi-time world champion.
“It definitely feels great and I will definitely up my game for sure versing the best guy in the world right now. I definitely feel great and it will definitely push me along.”
Gout has trained with Lyles, also the four-time world champion in the 200m, and is set to do so again.
“I’m heading over to America to a training camp with Noah … and then heading over to Europe for a few races,” Gout said.
While admitting his displays at the championships were “nothing world class” he said a sub-10 run was only a matter of time.
“One hundred per cent,” he said.
“I have done 10-flat in my season opener and that race was a bit rocky. Time will tell obviously but I am pretty sure that is coming soon.
“Obviously I didn’t do it today, but soon for sure.”
After running 10.19 (+0.3m/s) in the heats on Friday, Gout said his start was not on point in the final.
“I didn’t have the best start. I came out for the ‘w’ pretty much and put on a show for the people watching,” Gout said.
Put on a show he did, waving to the crowd 15m out from the finish line as he hit the front.
“The more of a show there is the more people are going to come and watch,” he said.
“The more people, the more pressure there is. The more pressure, the faster you run. I love putting on a show.”
Last week Gout ran 19.67 at the national athletics championships at Sydney Olympic Park to become the first Australian to legally break the 20-second mark over 200m.
Gout blitzed Jamaican legend Bolt’s U20 time of 19.93 set in 2004 to claim the world record in the age group.
“After that race, I came back home and got back to the drawing board of course,” he said.
“Obviously, it took a little bit out of me mentally and physically because I have never run that fast before, but I definitely came back and did recovery this week and straightened out pretty much.”
After Saturday’s race Gout was presented with the Australian Athletics junior male athlete of the year award.
His coach, Di Sheppard, also was awarded the national pathways coach of the year.
“We are the odd couple. We are definitely different in every aspect from the eye,” Gout said.
“But mentally, we definitely link up a lot. We have a lot in common when it comes to sport and the way we think. She has been up and around here today coaching so many different athletes, including myself, so she deserves it for sure.”
AAP