Lachie Kennedy Makes Electrifying Return with 200m Victory at Hobart Track Classic
Australian sprint sensation Lachie Kennedy has stormed back onto the track in spectacular fashion, delivering a blistering performance at the Hobart Track Classic on Saturday. Racing for the first time since July, the sub-10 second sprinter clinched the 200m in a meet record time of 20.43 seconds, showcasing his speed and resilience after a back injury sidelined him.
Kennedy, aged 22, powered around the bend and maintained his lead in the home straight to defeat training partner Calab Law, who finished in 20.70 seconds. This victory marks a significant step in Kennedy's journey towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as he expressed relief and excitement about his comeback.
"I'm definitely feeling tired, it's been a while," Kennedy said. "It was a good way to blow the cobwebs out, and I think not bad at all for my first race back."
Rising Stars Shine in Hobart
In other standout results, 20-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth delivered one of the best performances of her career, winning the Australian 3000m crown in a time of 8:37.42. This achievement places her fifth on the Australian all-time list, adding to her growing resume that already includes national titles in the 800m and the mile.
Hollingsworth surged ahead on the final lap to beat Abbey Caldwell (8:39.06) and Georgia Griffith (8:40.71) in a thrilling race. She is now targeting the 1500m for the Commonwealth Games, expressing optimism about her early-season form.
"I came into this race just to get a bit of experience, so to come away with the win is really exciting," Hollingsworth said. "It's only the start of the year for me so to be getting these kinds of times is such a positive. It's been tough in training but a lot of fun, and I can't wait to keep going for the rest of the year."
More Impressive Performances Across Events
Callum Davies added a third Australian title to his name in the men's 3000m, executing a final-lap masterclass to win in 7:48.21, ahead of Brett Robinson (7:49.09) and Adam Goddard (7:49.68). Earlier in the night, Olympic bronze medallist Matt Denny set a world-leading mark in the discus, throwing 68.74m to open the event with a meet record and his second farthest throw ever on Australian soil.
"It felt really tidy and well put together," Denny said. "I thought there was a bit more on the table there as well but still a great result. It was great to have a crack, have some fun and hopefully ramp it up for the rest of the season."
Rising star Izobelle Louison-Roe announced herself as a bright prospect in Australian athletics, winning the women's high jump with a leap of 1.93m. The 18-year-old attempted to break Eleanor Patterson's Australian under-20 record of 1.96m by raising the bar to 1.97m but fell short, yet remained positive about her performance.
"I'm super happy I was really close to my PB," Louison-Roe said. "I'm in good form, the jumps are coming along and feeling really easy."
Finally, veteran Peter Bol continued his strong form in the Summer Series, securing his second win from two starts by taking out the 800m in a time of 1:47.07. The Hobart Track Classic proved to be a showcase of talent and determination, setting the stage for an exciting year in Australian track and field.
