Melbourne, Australia; 4 March 2026 – Featuring one of the biggest names in world athletics, a defending champion and a new challenger who is faster than both of them – Peter Norman’s 200m Memorial at the 2026 Murray Plant Meeting – Melbourne has everything to make a classic.
Australian 200m record holder Gout (QLD), defending champion Lachlan Kennedy (QLD) and Under-20 second baseman Benjamin Richardson (Earl) will assemble a crew fit for Hollywood, bringing box office athletics to Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium on March 28.
At 18 years old, gout has already become a major attraction at any world athletics meet. The Ipswich teenager made his debut in style and is now setting decent times – none faster than his national record of 20.02 seconds which he set in Ostrava last year.
Gout cruises to an unofficial season opener of 10.00 (+0.9) to become the third fastest Australian man in history over 100 metres, and is poised to reach new speeds again this year, with the Maury Plant-Melbourne meet offering the first chance to see him on the national stage in 2026.
“I’m very excited to be back in Melbourne for the Murray Plant meet. It was a great meet last year and a great atmosphere on the track,” said Gout.
“I know it will be the same again this year. Lachie (Kennedy) ran great last year, so I’m definitely out for revenge!”
Kennedy was a shock winner in the 2025 edition of the Peter Norman Memorial 200m, beating crowd favorite Gout in 20.26 seconds to stun the crowd in the final race of the night.
The World Indoor Championships silver medalist is known for his fast starts and will run the race in stark contrast to the fast-finishing gout, with Kennedy clocking a season-opening 20.46 (+0.6) to win the Hobart Track Classic – his first race since July.
“I’m looking forward to this crowd and the atmosphere, and obviously I’m going to defend my title, and I’m confident I’ll be able to do that,” Kennedy said.
“My body feels great and I hope I can be at my best next to Morrie!”
Despite facing off against two of the fastest men ever in Australia, former South African champion Richardson will go down with every intention of spoiling the party, as he owns a world personal best of 19.99 seconds in the event and 9.86 seconds in the 100 metres.
The trio will combine to headline the Peter Norman Memorial 200m, an annual race named in honor of Olympic silver medalist and humanitarian Peter Norman, whose national record of 20.06 seconds stood for 56 years until gout overtook him in 2024.
The 2026 Murray Plant – Melbourne meet is the first of 12 gold meets for the 2026 IAAF World Athletics Continental Tour, and falls directly below the Diamond League. Oceania’s only gold level meet is supported by the Victorian Government through the Significant Sporting Events Programme.
Morey’s Planet Met 2025 – Melbourne tickets have sold out, attracting 10,000 fans to Lakeside Stadium.
