Perth Track Classic: Rohan Browning says emergence of Gout Gout and Lachie Kennedy has been good for him

Sprint star Rohan Browning says the emergence of hot-shots Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy is pushing him to stay sharp as he continues his quest to become the third Australian to break the fabled 10-second mark. The last time Browning was in Perth, he reaffirmed his status as one of the quickest Australians ever en route to a upset 100m win over rising star Kennedy. And while it would be unwise to expect a repeat of the personal best 10.01 he clocked at last year’s Australian Athletics Championships, the 28 year-old is feeling energised about his return to Perth. Browning’s first run of the season will come at the Perth Track Classic next Saturday, one of the headliners alongside homegrown pole vaulters Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall and 800m star Peter Bol. At nationals last year, all the hype was on the burgeoning careers of Gout and Kennedy, before Browning reminded everyone of his own credentials when he pipped the latter on the line in the open 100m final. Browning told The West Australian he wanted to reassert himself as the best sprinter down under and the feats of Gout and Kennedy were keeping him on his toes. “I had that chip my shoulder a little bit last year, and I probably needed that impetus after many years dominating the Australian scene and then going to the international circuit, having to bridge that gap between the domestic scene and the really world class global circuit,” he said. “Those guys are bringing quality performances to Australia during our domestic season. The emergence of Lachie and Gout has kept me really sharp and more motivated. “Guys like Lachie and Gout are bringing those world class performances to the domestic Australian scene and there’s an element of iron sharpening iron. Browning’s 10.01 — five thousandths of a second quicker than 22 year-old Kennedy — last time he was in Perth equalled the PB he had set almost four years earlier at the Tokyo Olympics. Kennedy went onto become the second Australian ever after Patrick Johnson to run a legal sub-10 100m with a 9.98 run in Kenya in May. Browning is desperate to join the special club, but said he was cognisant of the need to not hyper-fixate on it. “I’m certainly trying not to be too obsessed with it. If you turn up and you keep winning quality races and running against better competition, then those really elite times will come,” he said. “I’ve been knocking on the door for a while; I’ve run 10.01 twice, 10.02, 10.05, 10.07, 10.09, 10.06. I’ve been consistent. “I think I’m close. I wish I had ticked that box earlier in my career, but here we are, and hopefully this year’s the year. “The beauty of this sport is it’s the same thing every single time. It doesn’t matter which track you’re at in the world, it’s always 100 meters. “Doesn’t matter if it’s the biggest stadium or a local deck. I just try to be really consistent and competitive stimulus racing the best guys brings out something in the great competitors.” Browning called the WA Athletics Stadium “the best place in the country to open the season” as he targets a strong campaign in the build up to August’s Commonwealth Games following a 2025 season which never quite hit the heights he hoped after his performance at nationals. He finished sixth in the 2022 100m final in Birmingham, but he is excited at the prospect of teaming up with Gout and Kennedy in the 4x100 — and avenging previous relay disappointment in the process. “I can’t wait to be re-involved with the relay. We’ll be trying to qualify at the World Relay Championships in Botswana in May,” he said. “The last time I ran in the relay the Commonwealth Games, I got the team disqualified in the first round when I tripped over. “I’d certainly have an opportunity to redeem myself, and I want to be a part of that team and hopefully win a gold medal with them.”