Australia's Lachlan Kennedy wins historic silver at World Athletics Indoor Championships
Topic:Athletics
13m ago13 minutes agoFri 21 Mar 2025 at 7:55pm
Lachlan Kennedy, Jeremiah Azu, of Great Britain and Akani Simbine at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
Lachlan Kennedy (left), Jeremiah Azu (centre) and Akani Simbine all reached the podium in the men's 60 metres. (AP: Vincent Thian)
In short:
Lachlan Kennedy ran a national record of 6.50 to win silver in the men's 60 metres at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
It was the first time Kennedy had competed at an indoor meet and he claimed Australia's first medal in the event.
What's next?
Kennedy will return to Australia for next weekend's Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.
Australia's Lachlan Kennedy has claimed a historic silver medal in the men's 60 metres at the World Athletics Indoor Championships after being pipped for gold in a blistering finish in Nanjing, China.
Kennedy stopped the clock in 6.50 seconds in the final, only 0.01 behind Great Britain gold medallist Jeremiah Azu.
South Africa's Akani Simbine took the bronze in 6.54.
It is the first time an Australian has won a medal in the event at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Kennedy, 21, was also making his debut on the indoor boards, having only previously run in outdoor meets.
"I've very pleased even though I didn't get the win," said Kennedy, whose time was a national indoor record.
"My goal was to go 6.4, but I didn't quite get that, but 6.50 is the next closest thing. I'll take it at the end of the day."
Kennedy won his heat in 6.52, before clocking 6.54 in his semifinal to finish second to American Ronnie Baker.
"I know I can do so much more, this is only the beginning," Kennedy said.
"I'm a bit upset I didn't win, but I definitely got the next best thing.
"Racing three events, with eight hours in between them was weird for me, but in the heat I stumbled and almost fell over after crossing the finish line.
"When I got to the semis, I was hesitant and tensed up a bit and then I thought, 'If I fall over in the final, I fall over', and I just went for it."
Kennedy will turn his focus to the outdoor season as he looks to dip under 10 seconds for the 100m.
His personal best is 10.03 and he will compete at next Saturday night's Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.
The Queenslander's performance in China illustrates the growing depth in men's sprints in Australia, with teenage 200m specialist Gout Gout the headline act.
Elsewhere in Nanjing, Australia's Georgia Griffith reached the women's 1,500m final, finishing runner-up in her heat with a personal best of 4:09.78.
AAP/ABC
Posted13m ago13 minutes agoFri 21 Mar 2025 at 7:55pm
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