Gout qualifies fastest for 100 at Australian junior titles after winning the 200 impressively
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Star teenager Gout Gout has qualified fastest for Saturday's 100-meter semifinals at the Australian junior athletics championships, less than a week after setting an under-20 world record time in the 200 that was faster than Usain Bolt's best at that age. The 18-year-old Australian sprinter finished Friday in a time of 10. 19 seconds at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
He entered the heats with the best qualifying time of 10. 0 seconds. Local media is reporting Gout has his eye on lowering Patrick Johnson's national open record for the 100 of 9.
93, set in Japan in 2003. Last Sunday, Gout ran his 200-meter final at the open national titles in 19. 67 seconds, taking 0.
02 off Erriyon Knighton's world under-20 mark of 19. 69 set at Eugene in 2022. Knighton also ran a 19.
49 in 2022, which World Athletics says is the fastest time ever by an under-20 athlete despite it not being ratified as a world under-20 record. Gout's time last week placed him above sprinting great Bolt at No. 2 in the all-time under-20 list.