Two of Australia’s rising sprint sensations highlight another big evening at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with Gout Gout and Torrie Lewis lining up in the 200m semi-finals.
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Gout placed an impressive third in his heat with a time of 20.23 seconds, although he will be in for a challenge when it comes to progressing to the final with five runners in his semi-final recording faster times than the Australian.
The 17-year-old will be better for the run though, having admitted it was a “pinch me” moment just to be competing at Tokyo in the heats.
But now, the teenager is looking to break through the 20-second barrier as he aims to become the first Australian to advance to the men’s 200m final since Patrick Johnson in 2005.
“I’m the youngest in the field, just a young bull trying to get into the final and just do my thing and run like the wind,” he said.
“So sub-20 in the final, indeed that’s the goal. Let’s get it.”
Elsewhere, Lewis built on her Australian record run in the 100m with a career-best time of 22.56 to book her spot in the women’s semi-final.
It ranked the eighth-fastest time in the heats and like Gout, she will also face stiff competition with former Olympic 100m champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and 2019 world champion Dina Asher-Smith in her race.
“Job done” Gout Gout through to semis | 01:47
Lewis, who is looking to become the first Australian woman to make the 200m final since Lauren Hewitt in 1999, didn’t seem to be feeling the pressure when speaking after her successful heat.
“I had just put so much pressure on my 100m and had so many expectations. This one, I was just trying to see how it went, just run how I run. I knew that if I could PB then I would put myself in the best position to get to the semi-final,” Lewis said.
“Obviously in a semi-final anything can happen and I feel like I’m definitely up there, but whatever happens, happens.”
Gout is expected to race at 10.09pm AEST with Lewis soon after at 10.31pm. The top two finishers in each heat progress to the eight-man final, along with the two next fastest runners. There are three heats in total.
While all eyes will be on Gout and Lewis, there are other Australians in action on Thursday night with Cameron McEntyre competing in the men’s javelin final while Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson begin their bid for more medals in the high jump with fellow Australian Emily Whelan.
The qualifying round begins at 8.15pm while Georgia Griffith (8.05pm) and Linden Hall and Rose Davies (both 8.33pm) are competing in the 5,000m heats.
Elsewhere, 1500m bronze medallist Jess Hull is back in action in the 800m heats at 9.46pm while Abbey Caldwell (9.22pm) and Claudia Hollingsworth (9.38pm) feature earlier in the night.
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