Fireworks boomed over Sydney Olympic Park just before 9pm on Saturday, interrupting the sudden quiet as the men’s 100m finalists waited on their blocks for the starting gun. Within 10 seconds, Lachlan Kennedy had produced his own pyrotechnics by running 9.96sec again to win his first national title by a comfortable 0.2sec.
“I needed the win, I needed to be national champ. I needed to say I had it,” the Queenslander said. “It’s a big relief to be able to finally do it in front of an awesome crowd and against great competitors.”
He replicated his personal best from Friday’s heat and dispelled fears of slow conditions that followed the 10.05sec he ran in his semi-final. Kennedy’s winning margin to Josh Azzopardi in second place was a gaping chasm in the context of the 100m, especially given Kennedy was slower than expected in the first few steps.
“I could definitely get my start better, my transition could definitely be a bit better,” he said, before reiterating his goal of running under 9.9sec this year. “I definitely want the Aussie record [9.93 sec].”
The fireworks came from the nearby Royal Easter Show. Their timing added more tension to a moment already charged with anticipation. The 22-year-old, though, rejected the notion they were the cause of his slow start. “I just block all the noise out,” he said. “Fireworks is definitely something different, sort of sounds similar to the gun, but you’ve just got to make do.”
He had spent a year stewing after losing to Rohan Browning – who finished third on Saturday – at last year’s national championships by less than 0.1sec. “I got beat fair and square last year. I was able to get back and beat him this year, so it’s just come full circle.”
Kennedy said he hoped to run the 200m on Sunday against Gout Gout, but he would wait to feel how his body felt inthe morning.
In the women’s 100m, Georgia Harris was a surprise winner. The 21-year-old overcame recent injury struggles to break through for her first national title, after edging out Chloe Mannix-Power, and held back tears while being interviewed on Channel Seven. “It’s just more that I actually did it,” she said.
Reece Holder did something similar, winning his first national title in the men’s 400m after years plagued by injury. “I don’t think it was that well-executed a race,” the 23-year-old said. “But it’s nationals and you just come here to win.”
The women’s 400m followed a different script, after Ellie Beer secured her fourth national title – even if she is the same age as Holder. “It’s a tough event and I’m still learning,” she said.
Friday night’s women’s 1500m final threw up one final twist, after an appeal against the disqualification of Claudia Hollingsworth – who appeared to clip the favourite, Jess Hull, in the final straight – was allowed. The decision on Saturday handed the title to Hollingsworth, who turns 21 on Sunday, despite her role in the carnage that led to Hull falling. “There’s no bad blood from my end and I’m sure there’s not from her. We respect each other a lot,” Hollingsworth said.
Hull intends to compete in Sunday’s 5,000m, but withdrew from the 800m after the incident. Hollingsworth is through to Sunday’s 800m final as the fastest qualifier. “I’m definitely willing to reach out [to Hull] for sure, and make sure she is OK,” Hollingsworth said after winning her heat. “We’re both mature athletes and we want the best for each other.”
In a busy Saturday night, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy secured her fifth national title, as did Mackenzie Little in the javelin. Cam Myers backed up his victory in the 1500m on Friday to win the 5,000m. But there was pain for the Paris Olympian Peyton Craig, who prematurely slowed in his 800m heat and was beaten to the line, thereby missing out on Sunday’s final.
