​In a thrilling showdown at Melbourne’s Maurie Plant Meet, 21-year-old Lachlan Kennedy delivered a stunning upset by narrowly defeating 17-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout in the men’s 200 meters. Kennedy clocked a personal best of 20.26 seconds, edging out Gout by just four hundredths of a second. ​

Kennedy’s explosive start gave him an early lead, which he managed to maintain despite Gout’s trademark late surge. The race culminated in a desperate dip at the finish line, with Kennedy emerging victorious in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,000 at Lakeside Stadium. ​

Post-race, Kennedy expressed his exhilaration, acknowledging the depth of Australian sprinting talent and praising Gout as a formidable competitor. Gout, despite the narrow loss, remained gracious, vowing to use the experience as motivation for future competitions. ​

This electrifying encounter not only highlights the rising prominence of Australian sprinters on the global stage but also sets the stage for an exciting rivalry between Kennedy and Gout in the lead-up to future international competitions.