Kennedy withdraws from national 200m showdown with Gout
Joanna Guelas |
Lachlan Kennedy will not race in the 200m at the Australian athletics championship, putting his rivalry with teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout on hold.
Kennedy pulled out of Sunday’s 200m event at Sydney Olympic Park a day after clocking 9.96 seconds to win his first national 100m title.
It was the second time the 22-year-old had legally bettered the 10-second mark in as many days, also running 9.96 to win his heat.
He is the first Australian to complete the feat on home soil, with national record-holder Patrick Johnson running 9.93 in Mito, Japan, in 2003.
Kennedy had already expressed his doubts about lining up for the 200m, saying he was “gassed” after the 100m semi-final.
Gout will have to wait for another opportunity to improve his score against Kennedy, who has won their past two meetings.
Kennedy had pipped his 18-year-old rival to complete a 100m-200m double for the second successive year at last month’s Maurie Plant Meet.
Middle-distance star Jessica Hull is expected to line up in Sunday’s 5000m after withdrawing from the 800m due to soreness.
Hull had lost her 1500m title to Claudia Hollingsworth after tripping while trying to defend a challenge from the 20-year-old rising star.
Peter Bol will race for his fifth 800m title later on Sunday, with high jump ace Nicola Olyslagers and pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall also in action.
AAP