Lachlan Kennedy Claims 100m Title at Australian Athletics Championships with Another Sub-10 Second Run

Lachlan Kennedy delivered a standout performance at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney on Saturday night, clocking a blistering 9.96 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres—matching his historic time from the heats and affirming his position as Australia’s fastest man.

Just a day after becoming the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier on home soil, Kennedy repeated the feat in the final, surpassing competitors Josh Azzopardi and Rohan Browning to secure his first national title. The race took place amid cooler evening conditions and background fireworks, adding both spectacle and challenge to the event.

After the race, Kennedy acknowledged that despite the landmark victory and matching his personal best, he believes there is still room for improvement. The sprinter has set his sights on breaking Patrick Johnson’s national record of 9.93 seconds and aims to join the exclusive ranks of athletes who have posted 9.8-second times. “I’ve definitely got more in the tank,” Kennedy said, indicating his aspirations for the remainder of the athletics season.

Kennedy’s appearance in the 200m event on Sunday remained uncertain due to the physical demands of his three 100m races on Saturday, with the athlete stating he would monitor his recovery before deciding whether to compete.

Elsewhere at the championships, Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull withdrew from the 800m due to soreness following a fall during the final stages of Friday’s 1500m race. Hull had been hoping to claim national titles in the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m, but her bid ended after rival Claudia Hollingsworth clipped Hull’s legs while attempting to pass in the 1500m, causing Hull to fall.

Hollingsworth initially won the 1500m but was disqualified before being reinstated as champion after an appeal. Athletics Australia confirmed a request to re-run the race was rejected, and Hull’s participation in the remainder of the championships is currently uncertain.

In other results, Nina Kennedy took the pole vault title with a 4.65m clearance, Mackenzie Little secured the javelin with 58.87m, Roman Anastasios won the men’s high jump at 2.20m, and Georgia Harris claimed the women’s 100m in 11.5 seconds.

The championships continue, with several outcomes—including Hull’s status—still to be determined as event organizers and athletes assess the aftermath of a dramatic weekend of competition.