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.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
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.
“Hard to say … have to see what the coach and physio say. We’ll see how I feel and how I pull up,” he said after the race.
“Tonight I’m going to celebrate and we’ll see how the body pulls up tomorrow.”
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.
After Kennedy’s 100m blinder on Saturday, Bruce McAvaney said: “It is spectacular. He’s a star.”
He was a bit slow out of the blocks, but still in a class of his own to easily beat Josh Azzopardi (10.16) and Rohan Browning (10.19).
Sprinting great and Sunrise host Matt Shirvington added: “We’ve just seen another evolution in his racing, he didn’t get out of blocks that well, but that flawless technique got him to the line.”
Speaking after the race, Kennedy said it was a relief after narrowly missing out last year.
“It’s such a relief to finally be able to say I’m a national champion,” he told Channel 7.
“I feel like I should have had it last year, but didn’t have my best race.
“Was able to come here and handle business and run a pretty good time while I’m at it.”
– With 7NEWS
