Australian sprint star Gout Gout storms home in heat to qualify for 200m semifinals
Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout has lived up to the billing, storming into the 200m semifinals in Tokyo after a blistering heat at the World Athletics championships.
With only the top three from each heat securing automatic qualification and fast times in the first four heats, Gout had to run at least near his best to make it through to the semifinals.
Starting in lane eight, Gout got off to a middling start but charged home over the final 50m to finish well clear in third to comfortably make it through in a time of 20.23.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Jamaica’s Bryan Levell took first in 19.84, the eighth fastest time this year, while Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba took second in 20.06
Gout’s time is the eleventh fastest in Australian history on what was his senior international debut.
“It feels pretty good, I mean it’s great to be out here, competing on the world stage. I’m happy to be here and can’t wait for the semi,” Gout said.
“It’s a great experience for me, running against the big dogs, it’s great to be out here and excited for more”
His personal best of 20.02 seconds is an Australian record, beating the 56-year-old time set by Olympic silver medallist Peter Norman, but his heat had three athletes who had run under 20 seconds previously, such was the strength of the competition.
Gout is the youngest man in the 200m field in Tokyo and the youngest man ever to be selected in an Australian team at a world athletics championships.
The 17-year-old said there is still plenty more improvement to come, admitting he was in ‘cruise control’ over the final stretch.
“Sub 20, that’s the goal, we’ll see in the semifinal,” he said.
“The start’s not my strong suit, but as soon as I get into my running, I’m chilling. Just run with freedom. Free hit and just go out, run like a horse, run like the wind.
“Obviously, I was a bit nervous but I just gotta get out here and enjoy being out here.
“I felt that in my heat everyone was up against me apart from the top two. I hit cruise control in the last 50, last 30, big Q, that’s all I needed.”
Earlier, women’s sprinter Torrie Lewis ran a personal best in her 200m heat, clocking a 22.56 to finish second behind Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith to secure automatic qualification for the semifinals.
It continues her strong form at the championships after Lewis set a national record on Saturday to qualify for the semifinals of the 100m.
