Sprint king Lachlan Kennedy has doubled down on his sub-10 second heroics to be crowned Australia’s fastest man for the very first time, as Olympic champion Nina Kennedy saluted in style and Cameron Myers extended his range.
Clocking a championship record of 9.96 (+0.5) for the second time in as many days, Kennedy (QLD, Andrew Iselin) executed flawlessly when it mattered most – adding to the fireworks at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.
Challenged early by defending champion Rohan Browning (NSW, Jack Edwards) and Joshua Azzopardi (NSW, Rob Marks), Kennedy proved a class above when stretching away from his domestic rivals, shattering the 10-second barrier for the third time in his career and equalling his personal best.
“It’s the standard I’ve set now, so hopefully I can go a bit quicker next time and see where it takes me,” Kennedy said.
“It’s a bit of a relief to be honest to win it in front of such an awesome crowd. It’s a big relief to say I finally did it.
“To back it up after the semi with that time, knowing I still have a bit to work on, I think the sky is the limit.”
Azzopardi was forced to settle for silver in 10.16-seconds and Browning the bronze in 10.19.
In the Women’s 100m, World University Games champion Georgia Harris (QLD, Paul Pearce) flashed to the title of Australia’s fastest woman in 11.50 (-0.4), shifting through the gears to defeat Chloe Mannix-Power (QLD, Brett Robinson) in 11.52 and Ebony Lane (QLD, Christopher Dale) in 11.54.
Olympic champion Nina Kennedy (WA, James Fitzpatrick) soared over 4.65m to stand on top of the national podium for the fifth time in her career, jumping off a restricted run-up as she prepares to defend her title the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Missing three attempts at an equal meet record of 4.75m, Kennedy was pleased with the result.
“I’m happy with how I jumped. I got the win pretty comfortably out there, so there is no need to push the body,” Kennedy said.
“I’m so excited! Year after year it can get tiring after so long but having the whole year of 2025 off and not getting on a plane, I really miss it.”
At just 19-years-old, Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) completed a historic double when winning Men’s 5000m gold in a personal best 13:11.66 to back up yesterday’s 1500m title and cement his status as one of the sport’s brightest young stars, defeating defending champion Seth O’Donnell (VIC, Andrew Russell) who was valiant in 13:12.42.
“Coming here my focus was on the 1500m so this is just a bonus,” Myers said.
“I like the pressure. I feel like pressure creates diamonds and it gives me something to strive for. You either rise up or you melt down and I like that pressure, it’s good for me.”
In the field, World Championships bronze medallist Mackenzie Little (NSW, Angus McEntyre) survived a scare in the Women’s Javelin Throw, sailing to her fifth consecutive Australian title with a 58.76m throw to defeat Lianna Davidson (NSW, Angus McEntyre) who challenged strongly with 58.28m.
Leaving years of injury in his wake, Reece Holder (QLD, Christopher Dale) clinched his maiden national gold when gritting his teeth in the final metres of the Men’s 400m, clocking 45.11-seconds to hold on for the win against a fast-finishing Luke Van Ratingen (NSW, Ben Liddy) in a time of 45.25.
Ellie Beer (QLD, Brett Robinson) secured her fourth Australian title in the Women’s 400m, timing her run to perfection to take down early race leader Mia Gross (VIC, John Nicolosi) in 52.13-seconds, while Roman Anastasios (VIC, Sandro Bisetto) was crowned high jump champion for the first time with a 2.20m clearance and Cara Fein-Ryan (QLD, Ben Norton) won the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase in 9:35.87.
Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith (NSW, Jacinta Doyle, T20) delivered an upset in the Women’s 100m Para Final when torching the track in 12.32 (+0.1) to take down Mali Lovell (NSW, Katie Edwards, T36) and Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan, T38) on the BASELINE system, scoring 96.67 points.
None of the Australians could track down Danielle Aitchison (NZL, T36) who set a new 100m T36 world record of 13.23-seconds for a score of 103.40 points, while William Stedman (NZL, T36) made it a Kiwi double when taking out the men’s race in 12.29 (-0.1), as Jaydon Page (ACT, Matt Beckenham, T47) took line honours in 11.04-seconds over training partner Chad Perris (ACT, Matt Beckenham, T13).
Adding to the Para-athletics action, former world champion Cameron Crombie (ACT, Hamish Macdonald, T38) launched the shot put 15.40m for a score of 96.55 points, as Lee O’Halloran (TAS, Hamish MacDonald, F46) set a new national record of 14.72m.
Full results from the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships can be found HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 11/4/2026
