Dream debut: Gout Gout beats own 200m national record
Australian sprint star Gout Gout has crushed the 200-metres field in his first senior race overseas, breaking his own national record by two hundredths of a second to finish in 20.02 seconds at the Ostrava Golden Spike.
The 17-year-old ran a textbook race in his European debut at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in the Czech Republic on Tuesday (local time).
He crossed the line 0.17 seconds ahead of Cuban Reynier Mena. Briton Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (20.60) was third.
“I’ve felt stronger in training these last couple of months and I’ve felt good since I got to Europe last Thursday,” Gout said.
“I knew Mena would come hard at me the first 100, but I was confident I’d be close enough to come home strongly in the second part of the race which is of course my stronger part.
“I felt calm but strong as I came off the turn and was confident I’d be strong enough to get the win. Another national record. Pretty happy with that, it’s not a bad first up in Europe.”
Gout has drawn comparisons to Jamaican great Usain Bolt and made headlines in December when he ran 20.04 for the distance to break Peter Norman’s national record, which had stood for 56 years.
The Ipswich teenager was confirmed in April for Australia’s team for the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
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Cameron Myers has shattered his Australian under-20 record by nearly three seconds. Photo: AAP
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Cameron Myers delivered a performance of a lifetime in the men’s 1500 metres, clocking 3:29.80 to smash his own Australian under-20 record by nearly three seconds.
Myers finished fourth in the hotly contested race. His performance moves him to third on the Australian all-time list, just 0.39 shy of Oliver Hoare’s record of 3:29.41 set in 2023.
“My fastest races the last two years have been miles. It’s a coincidence but it’s really good to have a fast 1500 metres and I’m really pleased to get a [personal best] and my first time under 3:30,” he said.
