National relay record shattered at Sydney Track Classic

History was made under the lights of the Sydney Track Classic as the Australian Men’s 4x100m relay team blazed to a new national record, signaling a defining moment in the resurgence of the country’s sprinting stocks, while Georgia Griffith and Jude Thomas commanded victories in the Australian 3000m Championships.

Australia’s sprinting revival hit new speeds at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre with the Men’s 4x100m setting a new national record of 37.87-seconds, as the quartet of Lachlan Kennedy (QLD), New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes Joshua Azzopardi (NSW) and Christopher Ius (NSW), and Calab Law (QLD) obliterating the former mark of 38.12-seconds.

Going from strength-to-strength after first breaking the Australian record at the Paris Olympic Games, the men torched the track to clock the 12th fastest time by a country in history, reaping the rewards of Australian Athletics’ relay program.

“It feels pretty unreal, hey!” Azzopardi said.

“Lachie flew around that bend, and then I felt like I ran a pretty good leg, and then passed the baton to Chris, and I was screaming the whole way and as soon as Calab got it.”

“I knew it was going to be a quick time, I was watching the board at the top end of the track and it came up 37.8 and it was unbelievable.

“We’ve been chasing that sub-38 for a while.”

As the race to a sub-10 second performance continues across the nation, 10.03-sprinter Kennedy credited the record to the respect that the squad have for one another both as individual athletes and as a team.

“The camaraderie is great. Everyone is running so quick this year and it really brings the intensity and the competitiveness to the relays from the individual events,” Kennedy said.

“We’re all pushing each other, but we’re all still a team at the end of the day and we all want what’s best for the team.”

Australia’s women put on a stunning showing just minutes later with a time of 42.84-seconds, represented by NSWIS athlete Ella Connolly (QLD), Bree Rizzo (QLD), Kristie Edwards (NSW) and Chloe Mannix-Power (QLD).

Three-time Olympian Peter Bol (VIC) wound back the clock with a trademark run and smile in the Men’s 800m, as the Olympic finalist took the next generation with him to a win of 1:44.86, followed by 17-year-old Daniel Williams (NSW) in 1:45.49 and Luke Boyes (NSW) in 1:45.56.

“As much as this is an individual sport, I want the boys to get faster. If they’re fast, I’m fast and it was just so good to be out here today,” Bol said.

“I’m also so proud of these guys getting times of 1:45, it shows that Australian athletics is in a real good place. I’m excited for this year and I’m excited for Australia.”

19-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC) returned to the 800m for the first time since the Olympic semi-final in style when bursting away from the field in 1:59.30.

The speed flowed into the individual 100m races as Azzopardi laid down the law in 10.06 (+2.4), ahead of reigning Australian champion and NSWIS athlete Sebastian Sultana (NSW) in 10.08, while Edwards punished the women’s field in 11.26 (+1.0). 

Paralympic medallist and NSWIS athlete Mali Lovell (NSW) also broke an Australian record in the 100m T36, clocking 14.35 (+0.4) to lower her own record by 0.03 as she works towards the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, this September.

A new world record is looming for James Turner (ACT) in the 100m, with the Paralympic champion clocking a swift 11.58-seconds (+2.2) – the fastest time ever in all conditions by a T36 athlete. Paralympian Jaydon Page (ACT, T47) dipped under the 11-second barrier once more in 10.97, working back towards his personal best and Australian record of 10.82.

Australian record holder over 3000m Georgia Griffith (VIC) flexed her form with a big win to secure the Australian 3000m title, stretching away from the field with a 2:42 final kilometre to take the win in 8:54.02 when challenged by Maudie Skyring (VIC) and Sarah Billings (VIC) who took silver and bronze respectively.

21-year-old Jude Thomas (QLD) made it Australian 3000m title number three with a clinical performance to continue his breakthrough year, coasting to 7:49.17 to finish ahead of training partners Callum Davis (QLD) in 7:50.04 and Jack Bruce (QLD) in 7:50.75.

Early in the program, it was NSWIS athlete Sarah Carli (NSW) who declared it a fast track, and set the tone with the fastest season opener of her career in 54.86-seconds, defeating Olympic teammate Alanah Yukich (WA) in 55.64.

A final-round throw from World Championships bronze medallist and NSWIS athlete Mackenzie Little (NSW) rescued her return to competition in Sydney, producing a 59.77m effort in the sixth round of the Women’s Javelin to rise from sixth place to the win.

Rounding out the action in the field, Olympic finalist and NSWIS athlete Connor Murphy (NSW) strung together five jumps over 16m in the Men’s Triple Jump, the best of which was a 16.64m (+0.5) leap for the win.

The Sydney Track Classic is part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series, with Australia’s top talent now turning their focus to Oceania’s one and only World Athletics Continental Tour, the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne on March 29 at Lakeside Stadium. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Story: Australian Athletics

Photos: Brodie Cross/Australian Athletics