Further Information
Competition Stats
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
800 metres: 2004 - 6th (U20), 2006 - 3rd (open) 1st (U20), 2007 - 8th, 2008 - 1st
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
World Junior Championships: 2006 - 800m 3rd semi (1.48.26), 4 x 400m DQ heat
World University Games: 2007 - 800m 5th heat (1.48.92)
ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
800 metres:
2004 1.52.64
2005 1.50.63
2006 1.47.00
2007 1.47.06
2008 1.45.79
EVENTS/PERSONAL BESTS:
400 metres: 47.75 - Gold Coast, 26/09/07
800 metres: 1.45.79 - Melbourne, 21/02/08
Interesting Facts
Lachlan commenced Little Athletics at under-8s and won the Greater Public Schools open 800m title as a Year 9 student at Sydney Grammar.
Sporting Career
Though no stranger to middle distance, Lachlan’s improvement has been rapid.
In January 2006 he became a sub-1.50 runner, slicing almost three seconds off his personal best in a major breakthrough. He finished third at the open nationals and won his first under-20 title but missed selection for the Commonwealth Games.
He competed at the World Junior Championships in Beijing in August, setting a new best of 1.47.00 in his heat. He was out-muscled in the semis, finishing third in that race, 10th overall and just missing the final.
His run in the heat was the fastest time by an Australian for the year, the quickest by an Australian in three years and the best by an Australian junior in more than a decade.
Lachlan’s 2006-07 season brought mixed results. Sixth at the Telstra A-Series in Melbourne, he won his heat at the Australian Championships but, unfortunately, fell in the final and finished eighth.
Joining a development tour of the west coast of the USA in April and May, Lachlan won impressively at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University and the Mt Sac Relays in Walnut, finished second at the Oregon Invitational and added third at the Modesto Relays.
Selected for the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, he finished fifth in his heat and didn’t progress to the semi-finals.
Fifth place at the IAAF Golden League meet in Zurich followed, as did a win in Roveretto, Italy, while second place at the Australian University Games over 400m concluded the year.
Lachlan continued to impress during the 2007-08 domestic season. An Olympic B qualifier at the Canberra Athletics Classic followed by a PB and Olympic A qualifier (1.45.79) at the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix, he would be favourite heading into the National Championships. Lachlan would not disappoint, completing his domestic season with victory in the 800 metres at the National Championships.
Lachlan has been chosen for nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection into the Australian team for the 2008 Olympic Games.