Silver bullet: Lachie Kennedy breaks national record to end Australia’s 64-year wait for 100m medal
Australian sprinter Lachie Kennedy set a new national record of 9.85 seconds to win a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This achievement ended a 64-year wait for an Australian 100m medal in the event.
Why it matters
The performance marks a historic milestone for Australian athletics, breaking a long-standing national record and signaling a resurgence in the country's sprinting capabilities.
Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme crosses the finish line ahead of Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow./Getty Images Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme crosses the finish line ahead of Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow./Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2026 Silver bullet: Lachie Kennedy breaks national record to end Australia’s 64-year wait for 100m medal Sprinter betters Patrick Johnson’s mark with time of 9.85sec
Torrie Lewis breaks own 100m national record to win bronze
Prefer the Guardian on Google Australian athletics has never seen an hour like it. An irresistible crop of young sprinters delivered historic achievements in the drizzle of Glasgow, winning medals in the men’s and women’s 100m on a remarkable day at the Commonwealth Games that saw the two national records in the blue riband event obliterated.
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