Written by RT Juneau
History was made at the Sydney Olympic Athletics Center on Thursday evening when Queensland runner Lachlan Kennedy became the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier on home soil, clocking an incredible 9.96 seconds in the opening heat of the men’s 100m at the Australian Athletics Championships.
The 22-year-old’s running sent shockwaves through the packed stands and cemented his place as the most exciting running talent this country has produced in a generation. The conditions were near perfect – a calm, mild evening in Sydney with a legal wind of just +0.2 meters per second – and Kennedy made the most of every element.
This is only the second time Kennedy has broken the 10-second mark, having previously run 9.98 seconds in Kenya in May 2025. But doing it at home, in heat, in front of an Australian crowd, carries a weight of its own.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really expecting it. I was very relaxed, I wasn’t pushy – I was definitely pushing it – but it was easy,” Kennedy said after the race, smiling from ear to ear. “I think I got a little bit more, but it’s good to see that I’m in good shape.”
The importance of this moment was not lost on him. “I’m honored to be the first to do this in Australia. I’m sure we’ll have many more to come. No one can ever take that away from you, so I’m definitely glad it was me.”
With that 9.96, Kennedy now sits second on Australia’s all-time 100m list, behind Patrick Johnson’s long-standing national record of 9.93, which dates back to May 2003. Johnson’s number has stood for 23 years – and for the first time in a long time, it looks truly vulnerable. Kennedy did not hide his intentions before reaching the semi-finals and final.
“I don’t like to put a cap on what I can do, but I hope to try to break the Australian record tomorrow,” he said.
Queensland was measured but clearly caught. “I think I have a lot to offer – but we’re off to a strong start. Out of all the circumstances, today is probably objectively the best, but at the end of the day, I’m here to win this national final. I’m here to get my first national championship, so I’ll save the best for tomorrow.”
Kennedy heads into the semi-finals and final as the favorite, and the prospect of scoring under 9.93 has the Australian athletics community intrigued. He will also line up against Gout Gout in the 200m – a clash that sets up one of the most eagerly anticipated head-to-head clashes of the entire meet. Gout ran a 10.00 time in February 2026, which placed him fourth on the Australian all-time list.
Top 5 Australian 100m timers of all time
- 9.93 – Patrick Johnson (May 5, 2003)
- 9.96 – Lachlan Kennedy (April 10, 2026)
- 9.98 – Lachlan Kennedy (May 31, 2025)
- 10.00 — Gout Gout (February 21, 2026)
- 10.01 – Rohan Browning (31 July 2021)
The Australian Athletics Championships continue in Sydney on Friday, with the men’s 100m semi-final and final topping off what promises to be an extraordinary night of running.
