Australian pair bring the curtain down on what is an enthralling night of action at a sold-out Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne

In one of the most anticipated races on Australian soil in a generation, Lachlan Kennedy beat Gout Gout in a thrilling 200m at a sold-out Maurie Plant Meet (March 29).

Although conditions weren’t perfect for sprinting – it was cool and there was a slight wind – the dynamic duo put on a show for the thousands of fans in attendance in Melbourne.

Kennedy, who secured a silver medal in the 60m at the recent World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, had a personal best of 21.19 going into the race and knew that he’d have to take a large chunk off it to have any chance of winning.

Unsurprisingly, Gout came into the race with most of the attention, given he took down Peter Norman’s senior national record of 20.06 – a mark that was set at the 1968 Mexico Olympics – with 20.04 in December.

Just a few weeks ago, the 17-year-old also ran a wind-assisted 19.98 (3.4) to win the final at the Queensland Athletics Championships.

The 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet was a different test for Gout however, given this competition was at senior level.

Kennedy got the better start in the race and as he eased round the bend, a sizeable lead had already opened up between the 21-year-old and the rest of the field.

Gout, known for eating up the ground in the last 50m of races, had a large gap to make up but as he blitzed past Calab Law, Kennedy was suddenly in his sights.

The teenager turned on the afterburners but there just wasn’t enough track left and Kennedy took the win.

The pair clocked 20.26 and 20.30 respectively, with Kennedy going fifth on the Australian 200m all-time list, behind Gout, Norman Dean Capobianco and John Dinan.

The performance of the night arguably came from Cameron Myers, who took victory in the 1500m after front running the entire race.

The 18-year-old clocked 3:34.98 and beat an impressive field that included Adam Spencer (3:35.52), Jude Thomas (3:36.48), Oli Hoare (3:36.48), Sam Tanner (3:36.67), Peter Bol (3:37.29) and Sam Ruthe (3:40.12).

Myers, who claimed a 1500m silver medal at last summer’s World Under-20 Championships in Peru, has continued his fine form into this season as well.

Two months ago, the Australian sliced almost two seconds off the world indoor under-20 mile record with 3:53.12 at the Dr Sander Invitational in New York.

He then improved that time with 3:47.48 at the Millrose Games in New York, going fifth on the indoor mile all-time list.

Fellow Aussie teenager Claudia Hollingsworth also impressed in the 1500m and she triumphed in a strong domestic field.

The 19-year-old produced a meet record of 4:05.97 under the lights in Melbourne, finishing ahead of the likes of Sarah Billings (4:06.37), Linden Hall (4:06.89) and Abbey Caldwell (4:06.91).

Australia’s strength in depth also extends to the longer distances and Ky Robinson secured victory in the 5000m with a personal outdoor best of 13:13.17.

He has however gone much quicker indoors – Robinson clocked 13:02.34 in Boston earlier this month.

The 3000m was won by Ethiopia’s Fentaye Belayneh – the 2024 5000m African champion – who claimed a meet record of 8:34.30.

Georgia Griffith, who is the Australian 3000m record-holder and placed fourth in the 1500m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, placed second with 8:35.10.

The 400m produced the standout international field of the meet and Bostwana’s trio of Bayapo Ndori, Letsile Tebogo and Leungo Scotch placed one-two-three respectively.

Ndori, who has a personal best of 44.10 over one lap, took the victory in 45.14, with Olympic 200m champion Tebogo just behind in 45.26.

In the field, Olympic discus bronze medallist Matt Denny smashed the meet record with a best throw of 68.17m on home soil. Lawrence Okoye was second with 64.60m.

Eleanor Patterson, fresh off her world indoor high jump silver medal, cleared 1.94m to take the victory in Melbourne.