Teenage sprint sensation betters Peter Norman’s long-standing mark with another outstanding run in Brisbane
If you haven’t heard of Gout Gout, you probably have now.
The prodigiously talented 16-year-old competed at the Australian All-Schools Championships as the under-20 national record holder for the 200m, having: Last month it was 8.29pm in Queensland.
That run was the fastest by an Australian since 1993, and in the wake of it many wondered if Gout could one day lower Peter Norman’s senior mark of 20.06.
Not only was it a time that secured Normani a 200m silver medal at those Games, but no Australian had ever come within a tenth of a second of it.
However, in the hot Brisbane sun, Gauth clocked a stunning 20.04 (1.5) to win the 200m, setting a senior Oceania record by half a lap.
Gout (Getty)
“These are grown-up times and I’m just a kid, I’m in charge,” said the teenager fastest in the 200m. I was chasing that record, but I didn’t think it would come this year. I thought maybe next year or the next.”
Gout’s 20.04 now puts him second on the all-time list in the under-18 200m behind Erion Knighton, who ran 19.84 at the USATF Championships three years ago.
It also means Gout is faster than Usain Bolt in the 200m under-18 category, with the Jamaican clocking 20.13 in 2003.
After his win, Gaut celebrated with both coach Dee Sheppard and manager James Templeton, hardly able to believe his feat.
Templeton, Gout and Shepard (Getty)
Gaut also had success in the 100m at the championships, setting an Australian under-18 record of 10.17 (0.9) in her win.
In the heat, the teenager caught the world’s attention after clocking 10.04 (3.4), but the wind was well above the limit.
It marks the end of a sensational season for Gut, who won a superb silver medal in the semi-finals at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima. settling behind South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza.
By: The Guardian:Gout and Sheppard, through their mutual sponsor Adidas, also received an invitation to join Noah Lyles and his coach Lance Brauman in Florida for a few weeks in January.
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