Around The Grounds => The Sports Desk => Topic started by: Lods on August 31, 2024, 11:22:45 am
Title: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on August 31, 2024, 11:22:45 am
There has been a bit of fuss on social media in the last week or two about QLD sprinting sensation Gout Gout. It's a bit surprising because the clips of Gout doing the rounds are from back in March..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8IuQc-QVhE
I guess a bit of the interest is the fact that the World U/20 championships are on at the moment in Peru. Gout is still only around 16. Well about an hour or two ago Gout completely missed the start of the 200 metre final and was well down going into the bend. He's come over the top of all the others, just failing to catch the 100 meter champion Walaza who was an Olympic relay medallist with the South African team a few weeks ago.
If you get a chance to have a look at it...this kid looks like being something special at the next Olympics and probably at his peak in Brisbane.
(Here it is) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wWo5qEtTg
and...just when you thought it was safe to leave the track...
Olympian Torrie Lewis has also won a silver in the Women's 200m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylpKloQWK5w
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on August 31, 2024, 01:14:26 pm
That was some finish by Gout Gout :o
Good runs by both athletes and both should be at the peak of their powers in 2028 :)
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: bratblue on August 31, 2024, 01:43:37 pm
I'm just trying to work out the scenario that earned him his name.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on August 31, 2024, 02:03:14 pm
I'm not sure if this rule is true of athletics, but of almost every other code, beware the child star. They often fail to live up to expectations.
Torrie Lewis already has an Olympic silver medal so she's probably exceeded expectations. Gout X 2 could fall by the wayside but I expect that he'll be there in 2028.
Remember the Cripps who played for St Kilda - Jason I think? He did Little Athletics at the same time as my daughter and their two clubs took part in District and State competitions. Jason wore spikes when most kids just had runners and his parents would ponce around explaining, "Jason doesn't do the 70m because it's not an Olympic event!" He was very quick though and won everything from the 100m to the 400m. He must have decided that footy was more his thing and gave athletics away for an AFL career. The fleetness of foot he showed at Little Aths served him well on the footy field but his hamstrings just couldn't hack it. I wonder if all that sprinting he did as a pre-teen was a contributing factor :-\
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on August 31, 2024, 06:04:20 pm
I'm not sure if this rule is true of athletics, but of almost every other code, beware the child star. They often fail to live up to expectations.
Nothing is ever certain but... I've been involved in Track and Field for over 50 years. I reckon this kid is as exciting a sprint prospect as we've had. With just a bit of natural progression he'll go sub 10/20 in the 100 and 200 before he reaches 21. His 20.60 run today was into a headwind. His start probably cost him a couple of metres and he came home nearly over the top of a much more mature, athlete who is no mug runner.
I'm probably one of the most ardent critics of the Little Athletic system and bringing juniors on too quickly. I beleive it's cost us multiple talented athletes over the years as it's destroyed young prospects by pitting them against early developers. It's also had a negative impact on the sport in general, in terms of it's profile and participation into senior ranks. Very few teenagers want to tell their friends they do 'Little A's' and as the kids go through the age groups the drop off is significant.
But there are some who have thrived under the 'early' competition system.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: bobby on September 01, 2024, 11:32:25 pm
I was involved in LA for a few years, and have had a life long interest in T & F. Kids bodies change as they grow get get slower some get faster. Good coaches and clubs emphasize trying your best at all events and try not to focus too heavily on one or two. High jumpers can become triple jumpers. Sprinters being explosive can become throwers. This is not understood and kids get burnt out when the from in their preferred events drops off.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on September 02, 2024, 02:19:29 pm
In my experience, it wasn’t Little Aths that was the problem, it was some of the athletes’ parents 🙄
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 02, 2024, 02:56:16 pm
In my experience, it wasn’t Little Aths that was the problem, it was some of the athletes’ parents 🙄
A big part of the problem. Parents living through their kids rather than celebrating their progress. But there are a whole range of other issues. Rows of young kids bored to the teeth waiting for their race throw or jump. The dramatic drop off rate as kids are lost to the sport in their teen years. The sport today is a shadow of itself in the 60s and 70s Thankfully we have a few elite who succeed. But many a potentially good athlete has been lost to the sport.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on September 04, 2024, 02:38:05 pm
My daughter’s little aths was very well organised and the kids didn’t spend a lot of time waiting around. Other sports beckoned though and she chose basketball.
When her children reached sporting age, little aths was too much of a commitment and they preferred basketball, footy, cricket and tennis. They only do athletics for school sport.
My son went to little aths for two weeks before deciding that it wasn’t for him … takes after his old man!
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 04, 2024, 03:56:18 pm
I’ve been involved in half a dozen Little Athletic centres…and it’s true some are well run and do a good job…to a point.
I’ve also been involved in around the same number of senior clubs. Some senior clubs offer a competition option for kids as young as eight. In practice I’ve found they do a much better job with the youngsters, and also offer the advantage of continuity into senior competition. The other big advantage is that coaches and officials are well qualified and experienced athletes themselves, whereas the folks running little A’s are often good intentioned and hard working parents. Of course, over the years of involvement some of these folks do gain some good experience and qualifications.
But here is where I believe that Little Athletics has had a detrimental effect.
It’s created a gap in the teenage years that sees a lot of athletes leave the sport before reaching their full potential in their 20s and 30s Participation rates in the early years U/6 up until about U/10 are strong. Parental support is all around these groups….and it’s often here that we see the ugly parent, whose little one is destined for greatness, if coaches and officials will just give them (and through extension the parent), their undivided attention.
That’s the first barrier…many kids don’t want to be subjected to the expectations of these parental ‘crazies’. They’re not getting any fun out of that pressure. It can also have a negative effect on other parents and kids who get to witness this. (but I guess that’s a feature of lots of junior sport.) Once the kids reach High school the drop off rate begins in earnest. At centre competitions older kids are often left to run their own events as mums and dads are looking after younger siblings.
If you’re a little athlete and you’re not making regional and state championships the interest in the sport starts to wane. Kid’s at High school at 14/15 don’t want to ‘confess’ that they do ‘Little’ Athletics. (that’s a branding issue). Other sports become more attractive. The also-rans are lost to the sport.
It’s left to those champion juniors who dominate… and that’s what were seeing at the U/20 championships. Some of these successful juniors will go on to have good senior success. For many this will be the peak, as career and Uni studies take precedent.
It’s a bit sad watching this drop off of young athletes, and I am aware of efforts to build that bridge, so that there is a strong transition to senior athletics…but it’s being blocked to some extent by the usual ‘territorial’ issues and power struggles you get when you have two separate organisations trying to combine into one.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: kruddler on September 04, 2024, 05:34:06 pm
I’ve been involved in half a dozen Little Athletic centres…and it’s true some are well run and do a good job…to a point.
I’ve also been involved in around the same number of senior clubs. Some senior clubs offer a competition option for kids as young as eight. In practice I’ve found they do a much better job with the youngsters, and also offer the advantage of continuity into senior competition. The other big advantage is that coaches and officials are well qualified and experienced athletes themselves, whereas the folks running little A’s are often good intentioned and hard working parents. Of course, over the years of involvement some of these folks do gain some good experience and qualifications.
But here is where I believe that Little Athletics has had a detrimental effect.
It’s created a gap in the teenage years that sees a lot of athletes leave the sport before reaching their full potential in their 20s and 30s Participation rates in the early years U/6 up until about U/10 are strong. Parental support is all around these groups….and it’s often here that we see the ugly parent, whose little one is destined for greatness, if coaches and officials will just give them (and through extension the parent), their undivided attention.
That’s the first barrier…many kids don’t want to be subjected to the expectations of these parental ‘crazies’. They’re not getting any fun out of that pressure. It can also have a negative effect on other parents and kids who get to witness this. (but I guess that’s a feature of lots of junior sport.) Once the kids reach High school the drop off rate begins in earnest. At centre competitions older kids are often left to run their own events as mums and dads are looking after younger siblings.
If you’re a little athlete and you’re not making regional and state championships the interest in the sport starts to wane. Kid’s at High school at 14/15 don’t want to ‘confess’ that they do ‘Little’ Athletics. (that’s a branding issue). Other sports become more attractive. The also-rans are lost to the sport.
It’s left to those champion juniors who dominate… and that’s what were seeing at the U/20 championships. Some of these successful juniors will go on to have good senior success. For many this will be the peak, as career and Uni studies take precedent.
It’s a bit sad watching this drop off of young athletes, and I am aware of efforts to build that bridge, so that there is a strong transition to senior athletics…but it’s being blocked to some extent by the usual ‘territorial’ issues and power struggles you get when you have two separate organisations trying to combine into one.
I'd like to offer another viewpoint Lods.
Firstly, quick background. I never did little athletics, but was quite good at athletics in high school. I made state level in 800m/1500m and cross country a few times. I was invited to USA for a running tour when i was a bottom age U16 because i did well at state level cross country at the time. Honestly, i never took it seriously, and i was just naturally gifted / fit through playing footy.
OK, so one occasion i opted to forgo an opportunity to compete at state level 800m when there was a late withdrawal - i was next to qualify. Why didn't i go? I had footy training that day and i didn't want to let the team down. Which is the heart of the problem.
Athletics, in general, is all about the individual. Yes, you have some loose involvement with the other athletes and you can compete in relay races etc, but the 'team' is not a traditional team.
So for me personally, i prefered to be part of the footy team, than compete as an individual. I was a half decent footballer, got scouted around the same age, but again, was never serious.
At that age, teenagers want to belong. They don't want to be outcasts. Its not as obvious as peer pressure, but that does have some similarities. I think that is the biggest issue with little athletics vs most other (team oriented) sports when it comes to retaining athletes......specfically at that age.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 04, 2024, 06:10:31 pm
Yep It certainly is an individual sport Kruds...that doesn't mean the team aspect is totally missing
The funny thing is that when I think of my friends the closest ones are all athletes. (That could be partly due to the anti-social make-up of a lot of self-centred athletic folk :D :D ) Friends are few, but the trials and shared experiences of competition are a strong bond.
I started athletics at 17, around the same time Little A's was kicking off in Sydney. Back in the days interclub was run as a club v club concept Competition for all clubs was at the one venue... E.S Marks field Most of the major suburbs fielded sides as well as the the universities. (Sydney Uni, UNSW) Over the years I competed for St George, Sutherland, Parramatta and Ryde Hornsby. The competition was structured from A-G grade according to ability. The big clubs entered teams in all grades. What you found was that an athlete might be an A-grade high jumper, but if we were short a shot putter in G grade they'd have a go at that event just to get points for the club...and of course there were relays.
They were pretty heady days. On a Saturday afternoon we had a couple of hundred athletes competing and you would be competing against Olympians in some events.
So while the main focus was on our own individual performances the club aspect was very strong...and winning a premiership in any grade was regarded as a big achievement. The fact that you could compete in many grades over a season in different events also meant you could have multiple team success over a year.
That was kind of a golden era for athletics and seems to be largely diminished since Little Athletics came into being. Certainly the club aspect is not what it was. I can't help but feel that LA's is a contributing factor in the decline of that club structure at senior level. Having said that I think there remains a strong 'team' aspect to Little A's when the kids go to regional and state championships.
The other big team approach comes from your training squad. Our squad usually numbered around 15-20 and we all took an interest in, and celebrated each others performances.
I've also been involved in club administration. If you think Football politics is a bit wacky, you should see Athletic club administration. ;) :D
So yes, it's a very individual sport, but not without a strong 'team' aspect in the structured club/ squad situation.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: kruddler on September 04, 2024, 06:12:59 pm
I did concede there is some team dynamics, but its just not the same kind of team.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 04, 2024, 07:00:34 pm
I did concede there is some team dynamics, but its just not the same kind of team.
It's probably not, especially these days, but... We're probably looking at it from different experiences. My football career lasted about 6 years, so it was limited You seem to have never experienced the 'team' aspect of Athletics.
I will say that on that limited experience there was very little difference between a training session with my football teams and training sessions with my athletic squads in terms of interactions with others. (There was, of course, considerable difference in methods and activities though.)
Naturally there is a different emphais on game/competition day. The footballers focus is (or should be) on team performance.
The athlete's focus is on personal performance. But the footballer will always want to perform at their best. And the athlete will hope in performing at their best that helps their club get the points.
Athletics isn't the 'loner' sport some may think. Very few athletes who perform at the highest level do so in isolation. Most are part of larger training squads and support groups. And like footballers some of those interactions can lead to life long friendships.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Thryleon on September 04, 2024, 09:03:30 pm
I took sport seriously when i was 15. Round ball game. I got super fit, cracked a senior team at age 17, and then started dreaming of "making it".
Then the 1998 world cup happened and a 17 year old Michael Owen who played for Liverpool scored at the world cup, and dashed my ideas of grandeur because ultimately you need to have "made it" and signed at least a semi amateur contract by that age.
I wasn't good enough. Hormones took over and that was that. I started chasing girls, parties and booze. That's what likely does in "committed" little athletes.
I imagine a lot of aspiring young athletes understand that only very few make it to the top, the few that do need to be lucky and particularly true you need to start considering life outside of sport because thats where you'll end up if you don't make it.
Wanting isn't enough. Once you become a somewhat adult it becomes apparent that physical attributes are key to "making it". I was 180 odd cms, and about 80 kg when I came to the realisation that I want going to grow too much more, I wasn't blessed with elite speed and no matter how hard I trained the agility wasn't there. I wasn't a natural athlete, but I was a competitor and enjoyed team sport.
Alex di minaur is a testament to the committed pipsqueak. He's forged an excellent career for someone who isn't blessed with the same natural weapons and its a testament to his tenacity that he's done as well as he has. If 100 kids of the same type applied themselves the same way only 5 would hit the heights he has, and they would have some ability that separates them from the other 95.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: tonyo on September 04, 2024, 09:30:49 pm
It's pretty clear Gout Gout is a jet.
The most important question no-one on here has asked - can he kick a football? Would look great going down the MCG wings.....
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 04, 2024, 10:05:48 pm
A big part of the problem. Parents living through their kids rather than celebrating their progress. But there are a whole range of other issues. Rows of young kids bored to the teeth waiting for their race throw or jump. The dramatic drop off rate as kids are lost to the sport in their teen years. The sport today is a shadow of itself in the 60s and 70s Thankfully we have a few elite who succeed. But many a potentially good athlete has been lost to the sport.
I gave up the LA's a long time ago. Too many power trips. LA's has been a great base to developing athletes. While many drop out we are doing a lot better with athletes coming through the system too. Our strength in athletics mostly in the more technical events.
I found coaching kids restrictive. My coaching blossomed once I stopped coaching young juniors as I could really expand my range as a coach. I was a lot better coach once I did that. Managed to get 5 athletes to represent their country from different countries, last one an Aussie in 2022 World Champs in Oregon with the oldest female ever. COVID sadly screwed her race, but, she was there at 49yo. Now at my age I am just focussing on masters athletes. An excuse to travel every year...lol. My masters have won 42 medals at World level, 23 gold.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on September 12, 2024, 08:24:30 am
I gave up the LA's a long time ago. Too many power trips. LA's has been a great base to developing athletes. While many drop out we are doing a lot better with athletes coming through the system too. Our strength in athletics mostly in the more technical events.
I found coaching kids restrictive. My coaching blossomed once I stopped coaching young juniors as I could really expand my range as a coach. I was a lot better coach once I did that. Managed to get 5 athletes to represent their country from different countries, last one an Aussie in 2022 World Champs in Oregon with the oldest female ever. COVID sadly screwed her race, but, she was there at 49yo. Now at my age I am just focussing on masters athletes. An excuse to travel every year...lol. My masters have won 42 medals at World level, 23 gold.
I think we have similar experiences with the age situation. Most of the last 25 years I've been coaching, my athletes have fallen into two age groups 12-18 and 30+
My athletes have had some success at national junior and schools championships and my Masters athletes have won multiple national championships.
What I've found is that there is some correlation between athletic success and achievments in other areas of life...academic and artistic (one of my athletes ended up a dancer/performer on Disney cruise ships in the Caribbean :D :D ). I have had a couple of doctors and a vet (following in Dad's footsteps, who is also a member of the squad) The point of all that is to say that with young athletes there comes a point about 17-18 when school finishes and 'life' takes over. The focus switches, for many, from sport to university studies or careers. This also coincides with the ending of Little A's for the few who have still continued to that point. The very best of athletes continue on but for others they're lost to the sport....for a time.
So it's in that 18-30 age range where the numbers have (seemed to me) dropped from the glory days of the 50s, 60s and 70s. If you're not elite or at the least very competitive by 18, there's a fair chance your athletic career is essentially over. Very few plodders continue to compete. So to concede Kruddler's earlier point...That's probably a little different to the team sports where folks continue to play into their 20s and later, not just for the competition but also the friendships...and because of the 'team' aspect.
But here's the strange thing... After the age of 30 with careers established and family life beginning to settle, many return to the sport to compete as Masters. I wrote before about the young vet who was a national age champion. When she started her Dad came along to watch her train and one day he decided to have a go himself. Almost 20 years later he has multiple National championships under his belt. His daughter finished up about the time she started uni but has returned to the sport in the last few years and picked up a medal at the last National Masters.
We've lost that middle age range (18-30) and I suspect we've also lost a lot of talent that may have been successful on the international stage. That's probably not something that worries most folks. We've had a pretty successful Olympics. I just feel we could do things better and one of the first steps is making the transition from Little A's to Senior athletics a lot more seamless.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on November 03, 2024, 06:09:06 pm
Gout Gout 20.29 200m (3 Nov 24 – U18 heat QLD All Schools) ▪ Australian U20 & U18 record ▪ #4 Australian open all-time ▪ Fastest time by an Australian for 31 years ▪ 2024 World U18 lead by 0.21 seconds ▪ #2 2024 World U20 List ▪ #4 World U18 all-time (Bolt is #2) ▪ 0.31 seconds PB ▪ Wind +1.2 m/s ▪ Aged 16, 17 in December
(at a schools comp) ;) ;D
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on November 04, 2024, 09:32:02 am
But can he handle a footy Lods?
He certainly seems to have a bright future. Hopefully his coaching and mentoring is up to the task.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on November 04, 2024, 09:42:33 am
Clearly fast as hell and will get better with age but his running style is far from elegant. Usain Bolt he aint.
Michael Johnson the former world 200 and 400 record holder had a running style that many considered less than elegant.
Gout's not Usain Bolt...he's a step behind him at the same age 20.13 to 20.29.
And yes, he is raw. Plenty of scope for improvement. But Gout's best might not be over 100/200. The way he finished at the world juniors it's quite possible that like the 'unelegant' Johnson his best distances will be 200/400.
Gout is the 4th fastest 'ever' U/18 athlete over 200 metres (Bolt is #2) He is the fastest U/18 athlete in the 'world' this year.... and with the northern hemisphere seasons over it is pretty likely he will stay number 1. He ran the 200 the other day in a school competition with no pressure at all. How fast would he have gone with someone challenging him
He's not Usain Bolt, and it could all go pear shaped with injury and lack of development. But consider he has the speed to make an Olympic final already and he's hacking into his best times, not in bits and pieces, but with big drops.
If he does get better with age he'll be in rare company and probably peaking around the time the games come to Brisbane.
So the cap's off the bottle. Get excited. ;) ;D
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Gointocarlton on November 05, 2024, 10:58:39 am
@ Lods I wasn't comparing Gout Gout to Bolt from a speed sense, I was talking about pure elegance from a style point of view. Bolt is the most beautiful mover I have ever witnessed. The Mrs and I had the pleasure of seeing him live at Olympic Park years ago for the that craps a giggles event he ran at. We were very close to the track and I can only describe him as effortless, I noticed that with every other runner you could hear their feet striking the ground. You could barely hear Bolts.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on November 05, 2024, 01:04:28 pm
You will often hear a sprinter say that their fastest time felt 'effortless'. It's the secret of running fast and relaxed. There is little apparent effort because the legs are just turning over rather than being forced over. The body is in sync and there is no tightening up as the runner 'strains' for that extra effort. When you run like that it does feel effortless.
So as to Gout. Any comparison to Bolt should probably be made on an age basis. We can't compare a 16 years old (no matter how talented) to a mature world record holder. It's like comparing an 19 year old Patrick Cripps to a 29 year old Brownlow medallist. Let's wait and see, but at the moment the boy is on track.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 06, 2024, 02:39:33 pm
Has just run 10.04 for the 100 (wind assisted 3.4 m/s)
Gout Gout 10.04 100m +3.4m/s wind Australian All Schools ▪ #5 Australian All-Time (all conditions) 9.88 +3.6 Patrick Johnson 2003 9.96 +3.3 Rohan Browning 2021 10.00 +4.3 Tim Jackson 1989 10.03 -0.1 Matt Shirvington 1998 10.04 +3.4 Gout Gout 2024 (also 9.7h +6.6 Rod Mapstone 1996)
▪ #4 Fastest U18 in the World all-time all-conditions 9.99 +2.7 Erriyon Knighton USA 2021 10.02 NWI Jelani Watkins USA 2021 10.02 +2.4 Puripol Boonson THA 2023 10.04 +3.4 Gout Gout AUS 2024 ▪ In the last 21 years the only Aussie to run faster in Australia is Rohan Browning ▪ Meet record ▪ Aged 16, 17 on 29th December
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 06, 2024, 07:09:20 pm
And now he's run a legal 10.17 ( +0.9 wind )
Gout Gout 100m FINAL 10.17 (+0.9m/s) Australian All Schools ▪ PB by 0.12 seconds ▪ Australian U18 record, by 0.1 seconds, he now holds the U16 & U18 records and was 0.02 outside the U20 record ▪ moves from #44 to #14 Australian all-time ▪ #2 U18 in the world in 2024 ▪ #6 U18 World all-time list ▪ Aged 16, 17 on 29th December
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Gointocarlton on December 06, 2024, 10:19:25 pm
What happened to that Tasmanian wonder kid from a couple of years ago?
Jack Hale. Was still around having a crack at Olympic selection earlier in the year, but has struggled a bit to improve on his junior times. He ran the relay at the last Commonwealth games
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 07, 2024, 07:05:32 pm
Here it is. Actual race is around the 4.30 mark
Bear in mind that those behind him are the best U/18 sprinters in Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCgCz4ZjiRw
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: kruddler on December 07, 2024, 07:13:53 pm
I watched the 100m before and he got a terrible start, but still made it look easy. In the 200m he got a decent start and made it look even easier.
Hopefully his coaches can manage to keep his feet on the ground until the next olympics because the only thing that will stop him is himself.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: crashlander on December 08, 2024, 07:21:29 pm
I just saw on the news that his name is supposed to be Guot Guot. Apparently, it was mistranslated by an Egyptian official as the family fled to there.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 09, 2024, 11:55:40 am
Don't feel too bad for the runners-up in Gout's race. Josiah John (NSW) and Terrell Thorne (QLD) Both ran 20.87 to move to 2 and 3 on the All time Australian u/18 lists
John broke the NSW U/18 record in that 200 metre race. Terrell Thorne won the 400 metres and broke the Australian u/18 record 45.64
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: LP on December 09, 2024, 01:59:43 pm
Don't feel too bad for the runners-up in Gout's race.
Isn't it amazing what a bit of friendly competition brings?
Something to keep in mind as we watch our various teams, footy , cricket, etc., etc., persisting with rusted on selection policies! ;)
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on December 09, 2024, 10:03:38 pm
I heard an interview with Gout Gout’s manager on the wireless today. It started off well when an irate caller criticised the ABC for getting his name wrong, pronouncing it incorrectly, and not doing basic research. The manager jumped in and said that his name is definitely Gout Gout and the young man pronounces it as Gowt Gowt 🙂
The manager said that his job mainly involved refusing requests for interviews. He said that a 16 year old has more important things, like school work and exams, to worry.
He has arranged a sponsorship with Adidas. One of Adidas’s other athletes (whose name escapes) was a 2024 Olympic sprint medalist and his coach was on the athletics circuit with Gout Gout’s manager. Gout Gout will be training with him.
Apparently, Usain Bolt saw footage of Gout Gout’s run and said “He looks just like me when I was young!” The manager refused to be drawn on comparisons, saying that no good would come from comparing a 16 year old with the greatest sprinter of all time.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 09, 2024, 10:49:55 pm
I heard an interview with Gout Gout’s manager on the wireless today. It started off well when an irate caller criticised the ABC for getting his name wrong, pronouncing it incorrectly, and not doing basic research. The manager jumped in and said that his name is definitely Gout Gout and the young man pronounces it as Gowt Gowt 🙂
The manager said that his job mainly involved refusing requests for interviews. He said that a 16 year old has more important things, like school work and exams, to worry.
He has arranged a sponsorship with Adidas. One of Adidas’s other athletes (whose name escapes) was a 2024 Olympic sprint medalist and his coach was on the athletics circuit with Gout Gout’s manager. Gout Gout will be training with him.
Apparently, Usain Bolt saw footage of Gout Gout’s run and said “He looks just like me when I was young!” The manager refused to be drawn on comparisons, saying that no good would come from comparing a 16 year old with the greatest sprinter of all time.
He's going to spend some time training with Noah Lyles the Olympic 100 metre champion and his coach Lance Brauman in Florida. It's not going to be a long stint, just a couple of weeks. He has to get back to school and concentrate on his final year. ;) :D
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: DJC on December 10, 2024, 08:14:35 am
He's going to spend some time training with Noah Lyles the Olympic 100 metre champion and his coach Lance Brauman in Florida. It's not going to be a long stint, just a couple of weeks. He has to get back to school and concentrate on his final year. ;) :D
That’s him! It should be a wonderful, if short, experience for Gout Gout.
It seems that the lad, his mother, manager and coach are all in furious agreement about prioritising school and living as a normal 16 year old.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on December 10, 2024, 09:39:49 am
The experience will be great, but the duration is about right. His coach is doing a great job with him. The last thing you want to happen is 'mixed messages' for the athlete which sometimes happens with a large input from a second coach. Gout has to be listening to only one voice, and not questioning his main coach's methods.
Title: Re: Gout Gout
Post by: Lods on February 12, 2025, 12:44:47 am
As we move into the Track and Field championship months most Track and field folk are looking forward to seeing Gout Gout go around again. But there are also some really good performances happening elsewhere.
In the last week or two…. -Ella Connolly ran 7.16 in the 60 metres at the Australian short track championships. That would have broken Sally Pearson’s Australian record… except that Torrie Lewis ran a 7.14 to set a new record in Belgrade last week.
18 year old Cameron Myers has just equalled the (all time outdoor and indoor) Australian Mile record at the Milrose games in New York running 3.47.48 which is also an u/20 world record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DXC5KLKk-I
Torrie Lewis again- 22.65 indoors for the 200m just shy of Melinda Gainsford’s indoor national record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6W2FwL3ueo
Title: Track and Field
Post by: DJC on March 04, 2025, 10:28:59 am
A thread for random track and field performances and personalities …
Olympic sprinter Lachlan Kennedy has put up the equal-third best time for an Australian in the 100 metres at the weekend. The 21-year-old Queenslander ran 10.03 seconds (+1.1 wind) at the Perth Track Classic.
After the race, Kennedy said, “I know I can go faster if I can nail that start, and if I can do that with the last 40m I just ran there, we’re cookin’.”
If Kennedy can nail his start, he could join Patrick Johnson as sub-10 second Australians.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 04, 2025, 10:49:04 am
A thread for random track and field performances and personalities …
Olympic sprinter Lachlan Kennedy has put up the equal-third best time for an Australian in the 100 metres at the weekend. The 21-year-old Queenslander ran 10.03 seconds (+1.1 wind) at the Perth Track Classic.
After the race, Kennedy said, “I know I can go faster if I can nail that start, and if I can do that with the last 40m I just ran there, we’re cookin’.”
If Kennedy can nail his start, he could join Patrick Johnson as sub-10 second Australians.
Kennedy has been running really well. It was a fast race Often fast in Perth ;)
Josh Azzopardi (10.09) and Seb Sultana (10.11) also ran PB's Jack Hale (4th) is starting to run fast again (10.23) The top 7 all ran under (10.30)
Add 'the Gout' with a windy 10.04 and a legal 10.17 and we could have a couple go under 10.00 and a pretty impressive relay team
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 08, 2025, 10:48:09 am
Keep a watch on the records, especially both the men's and women's sprint and middle distance marks, in the next month or two as Athletics moves into its championship season.
Since that record list was compiled... Georgia Griffiths has set a new mark in the Women's 1000 metres 2.34.50 at the "Box Hill Burn" Peter Bol went within a whisker of Jeff Riseleys 1000 metre mark at the same meet. Missing by just 0.2 sec.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 14, 2025, 12:01:06 am
Australian Team for the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China: from March 21-23 Coverage on SBS (names in brackets are the coaches)
Women (13)
60m: Torrie Lewis (QLD, Laurent Meuwly), Ella Connolly (NSW, Andrew Murphy) 800m: Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau), Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren) 1500m: Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) 3000m: Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams), Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull) High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers (NSW, Matt Horsnell), Eleanor Patterson (NSW) Pentathlon: Camryn Newton-Smith (QLD, Ralph Newton) 4x400m Relay: Ellie Beer (QLD, Brett Robinson), Jemma Pollard (NSW, Tim Eschebach), Ella Connolly (NSW, Andrew Murphy), Torrie Lewis (QLD, Laurent Meuwly) and Bella Pasquali (VIC, Jason Boulton)
Men (7)
60m: Lachlan Kennedy (QLD, Andrew Iselin), Joshua Azzopardi (NSW, Rob Marks) 400m: Cooper Sherman (VIC, Neville Down) 1500m: Oliver Hoare (NSW, Dathan Ritzenhein) 3000m: Ky Robinson (QLD, Dathan Ritzenhein) Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall (WA, Paul Burgess) Long Jump: Liam Adcock (QLD)
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 15, 2025, 09:22:35 pm
Josh Azzopardi (10.06) and Seb Sultana (10.08) had good runs at the Sydney Track Classic tonight, Wind was above the allowable though at +2.4
Gout Gout ran into a headwind (-1.4 )in Queensland (u/20 champs)and clocked 10.38 to win by over half a second. Not to be outdone Rohan Browning has gone a legal (+1.2) 10.12 in the Open B final at the same meet. We're going to see a sub 10.00 before the season finishes. It may be wind assisted, but it's really close.
...and to top it all off at the Sydney meet-the Men’s 4x100m set a new national record of 37.87-seconds. Lachlan Kennedy , Joshua Azzopardi , Christopher Ius and Calab Law beat the former mark of 38.12-seconds.
·
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 16, 2025, 04:37:47 pm
With a strong tailwind Gout Gout has run 19.98 in the U/20 final at the Queensland championships. He won by 2 secs
He ran a legal 20.05 (+1.2) in the earlier rounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWJHjSiIvz8
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 22, 2025, 12:29:53 am
Lachlan Kennedy has just run second at the World indoor championships. Silver medal in 6.50 Beaten by 0.01 sec Gold to Azu of Great Britain 6.49
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 22, 2025, 11:09:06 pm
3000 metre runners turn at the World indoors.... Double Bronze Jessica Hull in the women's 8.38.28- (Linden Hall 9th 8.44.99) Ky Robinson in the men's 7.47.09
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 23, 2025, 04:42:35 pm
Women's High Jump at the World Indoors 1 and 2 for Australia Gold to Nicola Olyslagers Silver to Eleanor Patterson
Both cleared 1.97 Nicola on a countback.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 24, 2025, 12:31:48 am
Australian women's 4x400 relay team finish with a Bronze at the Indoors 3.32.65
Liam Adcock Bronze in the Mens Long Jump 8.28 One centimetre off the Silver Two centimetres off the Gold
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on March 24, 2025, 12:38:27 am
Australia finished 6th on the medal table at the World Indoors 1-Gold- 2 Silver and 4-Bronze. 7 medals in total was second overall behind the USA's 16
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: DJC on March 24, 2025, 11:00:42 am
Kennedy a massive PB 20.26 has just pipped Gout Gout 20.30
Nothing like competition to drive improvement!
Great runs by both lads 👏
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 01, 2025, 01:06:16 pm
What I'm about to write probably has a more general application to all young sportsmen with exceptional potential at an early age, including footballers.
I've been one of Gout's biggest boosters, on here, and with my general circle, which comprises many athletes. What happened on Saturday night was brilliant in terms of the contest.
What was not good was the hype leading into the race. And experienced commentators in Bruce McAvaney and Dave Culbert got caught up in it. We had Gout in his first serious race in open company. We also had the World Indoor 60m metre silver medallist and our best 100metre runner in Kennedy. In the introductions they raced through the other runners including Kennedy and then the fire works and flashing light went off as Gout was introduced. It was disrespectful. It was about that time I thought to myself..this could go pear shaped. And it did. Probably the best thing that could have happened to Gout was to be defeated by a runner who considers the event as secondary to his shorter sprinting. Kennedy moved beautifully through the race. Technically excellent. The comparison in style was glaring as the raw product that is Gout was on display.
Hopefully the result will have a grounding effect on Gout. Already there is talk around, that he was a bit stung by it and it was a sobering experience that he will use to improve.
Gout is a prodigious young talent. What he doesn't need is the exaggerated hype. He's got a couple of months of big racing, including I believe, a trip to Stawell. Enjoy the show
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: kruddler on April 01, 2025, 07:24:40 pm
That parallels carltons form.
Drinking your own bath water is dangerous.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 01, 2025, 07:45:21 pm
My issue isn't with Gout. Another 3 metres and he would have caught Kennedy. I'd back him the next time they race. Being 'stung' is a good thing. Hopefully our guys are stung into action this week.
My issue is with the hype being displayed by the organisers and media...like there were no other athletes in the race and it was just a formality. Bit like playing Richmond. ;) :D
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: DJC on April 02, 2025, 11:11:17 am
Gout Gout seems to be a sensible young man and those around him are working hard to keep him from getting ahead of himself.
It’s external parties like McAvaney who seem to have been drinking his bath water that are the problem.
Then there’s Erin “Spider” Brown” who has dismissed Gout’s potential and comparisons to Bolt. He proudly declared “I told you so” after Gout came second to “a 60m runner”.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 02, 2025, 11:26:54 am
There probably is a little bit of perspective needed. Gout is still very young. It was probably his first serious run in open company. Even his best 200m time (20.04) run last December only ranks him 23rd in the world. That's still pretty impressive for one so young.
(Just as an aside though...Erin Brown ranks 169th over 200...so Gout's a bit ahead of him) ;)
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: kruddler on April 02, 2025, 02:39:06 pm
Then there’s Erin “Spider” Brown” who has dismissed Gout’s potential and comparisons to Bolt. He proudly declared “I told you so” after Gout came second to “a 60m runner”.
I think even more damning, is that 2 or 3 days earlier Kennedy told everyone exactly how the race would unfold and was largely ignored by the local media.
Paraphrasing Kennedy because I cannot recall the exacts words,
"I should have him covered over the 1st 100, it's just a matter if I can hold on for the 200?"
and he did!
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 02, 2025, 06:05:07 pm
I'm pretty sure most Track followers were aware that was how it would be run. The fastest 100 metre runner in Australia was always going to be ahead at the 100.
The surprising element was that Kennedy's best 200 metre time before Saturday's race was 20.93 A drop to 20.26 was something not many would have been considering. Kennedy is a gun and technically very good. He is also only young himself at just 21. He is no mug sprinter and chances are he may be the second Australian under 10.00 To be beaten by him is no disgrace and it looks like he might even try the double (100,200) at nationals. He's not a sprinter to be disrespected....and there was a bit of that on Saturday night.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: LP on April 02, 2025, 09:26:38 pm
He's not a sprinter to be disrespected....and there was a bit of that on Saturday night.
I don't think the public was disrespecting anyone, but the media who the bulk of the public rely on to "report the news" almost ignored the bloke!
The Australian Media is sh1zen now, they pump up the bullsh1t and hardly report a fact, Murdoch has a lot to answer for globally.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 07, 2025, 08:51:53 am
Hearing on the grapevine (yet to be confirmed) that our Discus champ Matt Denny has unleashed a 72.07 throw. That would be the world number 5 all time. First Australian over 70 metres.
(It looks like that is official. New Australian record and fifth best throw of all time. The throw took place at "Throw town" Ramona in Oklalhoma. It's the same place where Alekna of Lithuania set the World Record of 74.35 in April last year. The venue has favourable winds for Discus throwers which aids the flight of the Discus and leads to some huge throws.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 08, 2025, 06:02:06 pm
While we were watching Gout Gout....We have a pretty hand U/18 woman in WA’s Leah O’Brien. Running in the U/18 100m at the nationals she has set a new Australian Under 18 record of 11.14. This breaks Raelene Boyle's U/18 record set at the Mexico Olympics in 1968. It is just 0.04 sec off Torrie Lewis Open 100 metre record.
Just on Gout Gout... it looks like both he and Kennedy will have their re-match at Stawell. Kennedy has the backmark at 0.25m, with Gout (1m), Jacob Despard and Ryan Tarrant (both 1.75m) and Jack Hale at (2m). Defending champion, Jack Lacey, will run off 6m.
National Open and Under 20 championships kick off on Thursday.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: kruddler on April 08, 2025, 07:32:31 pm
Speaking of Stawall Lods, and probably Jim as well, do you guys know the name Barry Foley? Won it twice. There is a small doco (which i haven't watched yet) on him on 7+. I know his daughter. They were actually going to make a movie about him once upon a time with Simon Baker playing him. Never happened for whatever reason.
https://7plus.com.au/foleys-gift
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 08, 2025, 08:00:02 pm
Speaking of Stawall Lods, and probably Jim as well, do you guys know the name Barry Foley? Won it twice. There is a small doco (which i haven't watched yet) on him on 7+. I know his daughter. They were actually going to make a movie about him once upon a time with Simon Baker playing him. Never happened for whatever reason.
https://7plus.com.au/foleys-gift
I didn't remember him until I looked him up Kruddler. Back in those days there was a bit of a divide between the pro-runners and the amateurs. I had a bit of an interest in Stawell because Bill Howard who won the double a few years before Foley was a Wodonga lad and I lived there for a few years around that time.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 10, 2025, 07:49:24 pm
Gout Gout has run 9.99 with a illegal tailwind 3.5m in his U/20 heat at the Nationals.
He won his heat easing up.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Gointocarlton on April 10, 2025, 08:13:07 pm
Gout Gout has run 9.99 with a illegal tailwind 3.5m in his U/20 heat at the Nationals.
He won his heat easing up.
10.02 pulling up a lot.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 10, 2025, 08:32:57 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_svlrPz_WM
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 10, 2025, 10:05:33 pm
9.99 again in the final. Missed the start somewhat. Wind 2.6 assisting. (above the limit again)
Apparently it won't affect his Stawell handicap
Just looking at the start lists and it seems Gout won't run the Open 100 but will race Kennedy and others in the Open 200m
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 11, 2025, 09:37:15 am
Matt Denney has released another monster Australian Record 74.25m The second longest throw in history (The competition is still in progress...he also has a 73.46.)
Over now...all six throws were over 70 metres. His best just 10cm off the World Record. Three throws over 73.00m The greatest sequence of six throws in history.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 11, 2025, 08:03:53 pm
When the gauntlet is thrown.
Lachie Kennedy has runa 10.00 100 metres in his heat at the nationals Wind a legal +0.9 Second fastest ever Australian leagally.
There's a group of 4 or 5 in other heats who have run 10.1's
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 12, 2025, 09:05:33 pm
In an amazing race Rohan Browning has just upstaged Lachie Kennedy in the 100m at Nationals They had to go to the 1000th to split them
Browning 10.001 Kennedy 10.006 Wind legal +1.5
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 12, 2025, 10:01:14 pm
:)) What the men can do, the women can do equally as well in terms of close finishes
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 13, 2025, 08:21:00 am
You would probably get an argument from the field athletes (nothing special last night). They feel that track gets a much more favourable coverage than the field events. They're right of course, but it's probably not great TV waiting someone to take a jump or throw. Same with watching lap after lap of a long distance race. The sprints are where the glamour is and we've got a good bunch on the verge of some big time break throughs in both mens and womens. Jess Hull and Cam Myers won their 1500s but they were tactical races so the times weren't outstanding.
Perhaps one to watch was a young 14 year old Emilia Reed. Racing in the Under 20 -200 metres, against much older girls, Emilia clocked a time of 23.29 and won the race by over a second.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Gointocarlton on April 13, 2025, 08:32:36 am
You would probably get an argument from the field athletes (nothing special last night). They feel that track gets a much more favourable coverage than the field events. They're right of course, but it's probably not great TV waiting someone to take a jump or throw. Same with watching lap after lap of a long distance race. The sprints are where the glamour is and we've got a good bunch on the verge of some big time break throughs in both mens and womens. Jess Hull and Cam Myers won their 1500s but they were tactical races so the times weren't outstanding.
Perhaps one to watch was a young 14 year old Emilia Reed. Racing in the Under 20 -200 metres, against much older girls, Emilia clocked a time of 23.29 and won the race by over a second.
There was a girl (dark hair, looked tall) the other day who they showed it on the news where she beat Raelene Boyle's record (I think) in the 100m. Cant remember her name but her running style/action was incredible. Do you know the girl Im referring to Lods?
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 13, 2025, 08:36:33 am
I haven't seen this kind of rise of collective form since the Chinese swim team.
I would like to think this is for different reasons, but i can't help but ask why and where has this come from?
You never know for sure (I can tell you some stories). But I think in this case is what we have is a group of excellent coaches, some great squads...and great competition amongst the runners (both sprinters and middle distance runners). It's that competition that is pushing athletes to exceptional performances.
There is another factor. It's venue. Perth has a reputation as being a fast track with favourable winds (as we've seen this weekend when they've been too strong for Gout's races). Combine that with the best sprinters and you get the results we've seen. The women's race last night while close, actually didn't produce outstanding times.
Matt Denny has been throwing Discus at Ramona in Oklahoma where the wind "comes sweeping off the plains". The Discus is an aerodynamically designed object that if you can sit the discus on top of the breeze it will carry. You don't want a hurricane blowing in your face, but a good wind at the right angle and you will get a good throw. The winds at Ramona this time of year are ideal. It's not a coincidence that Alekna set the World Record at this venue around this time last year.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 13, 2025, 08:37:33 am
You would probably get an argument from the field athletes (nothing special last night). They feel that track gets a much more favourable coverage than the field events. They're right of course, but it's probably not great TV waiting someone to take a jump or throw. Same with watching lap after lap of a long distance race. The sprints are where the glamour is and we've got a good bunch on the verge of some big time break throughs in both mens and womens. Jess Hull and Cam Myers won their 1500s but they were tactical races so the times weren't outstanding.
Perhaps one to watch was a young 14 year old Emilia Reed. Racing in the Under 20 -200 metres, against much older girls, Emilia clocked a time of 23.29 and won the race by over a second.
There was a girl (dark hair, looked tall) the other day who they showed it on the news where she beat Raelene Boyle's record (I think) in the 100m. Cant remember her name but her running style/action was incredible. Do you know the girl Im referring to Lods?
Yep It's Leah O'Brien the girl who finished second to Torrie Lewis last night. She has a beautiful long stride in full flight that just seems to skim the ground. She's only 17.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Gointocarlton on April 13, 2025, 08:42:42 am
There was a girl (dark hair, looked tall) the other day who they showed it on the news where she beat Raelene Boyle's record (I think) in the 100m. Cant remember her name but her running style/action was incredible. Do you know the girl Im referring to Lods?
Yep It's Leah O'Brien the girl who finished second to Torrie Lewis last night. She has a beautiful long stride in full flight that just seems to skim the ground. She's only 17.
Thats the one, she has a bright future you'd think. I didn't realise/make her out in the final amongst all the mayhem on the finish line.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: DJC on April 13, 2025, 09:12:20 am
It’s old news now but, across the ditch, Sam Ruthe is now the youngest athlete and the first 15-year-old to run a mile in under four minutes.
I watched the race and it was carefully orchestrated with pacemakers, but that doesn’t detract from young Sam’s achievement.
I have to wonder whether these young prodigies will continue to shine or burn out before they mature 🤔
And, talking of young prodigies, Raelene Boyle was a year behind me at Coburg Primary School. She used to win every event she entered and really set us up for glory at the inter-school athletics. She was by far the fastest runner at the school and could power away from older boys.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Thryleon on April 13, 2025, 09:26:17 am
Yeah we seem to be getting harder better faster stronger with each new generation.
The rise isn't uniform across all cultures but the kids seem to be taller and leaner these days.
Who knows I share the opinion. Bolt for me was a giant red flag.
Not really Thry; Raelene Boyle's 100m Australian junior record stood for 55 years ... and there are many other longstanding records,
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 07:13:22 am
Meanwhile back in Ramona Matt Denny throws 74.78 in the Discus well over Alekna's old World Record.
But there is is a big "but" in the form of Alekna, who enters the saloon, and pulls out two big massive throws. Alekna's new world record is now 75.76m
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 07:47:42 am
Yeah we seem to be getting harder better faster stronger with each new generation.
The rise isn't uniform across all cultures but the kids seem to be taller and leaner these days.
Who knows I share the opinion. Bolt for me was a giant red flag.
Not really Thry; Raelene Boyle's 100m Australian junior record stood for 55 years ... and there are many other longstanding records,
I'm the one who is beating some of these performances up, especially the sprinters, so we probably need to add a bit of perspective. It's not the times they are running at present that is the exciting part. It's the improvement and the potential. They are mostly young, and improving rapidly.
Most of these times will slip down the rankings as the Northern Hemisphere track season gets underway. Many people in other parts of the world (especially America, and especially one 'arachnid') are quite dismissive of sprinters like Gout and Kennedy. But what we are seeing at the moment is our own national records under constant threat...and by very young sprinters. I grew up in a golden age of athletics in Australia. We had sprinters/hurdlers like Cuthbert, Strickland, Norman, Caird and Boyle winning Olympic medals. Our middle and long distance runners were setting World records or winning Olympic medals-Landy, Clarke, Doubell, Albie Thomas.
We have several world class athletes in field events and middle/long distance running at the moment.
Athletes like Denny and young Cam Myers can hold their won in any competition. We have good vaulters and female high jumpers. We have a talented group of middle distance runners and our race walkers usually pull out a medal or two at major championships and feature high on world ranking lists.
Our sprinters are a bit off the pace. But they are coming.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Thryleon on April 14, 2025, 08:27:30 am
Yeah we seem to be getting harder better faster stronger with each new generation.
The rise isn't uniform across all cultures but the kids seem to be taller and leaner these days.
Who knows I share the opinion. Bolt for me was a giant red flag.
Not really Thry; Raelene Boyle's 100m Australian junior record stood for 55 years ... and there are many other longstanding records,
when a country is going into an Olympic hosting period all of a sudden they unleash a generation of talents in a variety of sports.
This isn't a coincidence.
Can't comment on Boyle's record. Suspect it means nought as historically one standout. An outlier if you will.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 09:29:04 am
I'm not sure the point you're trying to make is Thry. If you have a look at our National Track and Field records there are many that date back to the early 2000s, 1990's and even 1980s. (Darren Clark 400m, Ken Lorraway Triple Jump, Debbie Flintoff 400H) Boyle's former under 20 100metre record was set at altitude (Mexico), so breaking it was long overdue.
Advances in training methods (loading, periodization, nutrition et) in most sports mean we are producing bigger, stronger, fitter athletes. Its probably more apparent in a sport like AFL. If our current team, even missing a few, went up against one of our premiership teams from the seventies or eighties it would be a slaughter. The current side would run them ragged and hit them with a pressure game they couldn't withstand.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 09:48:21 am
Just a special mention for the class of Lachie Kennedy. He was running sore after a few big weeks.
He was disqualified for a false start at the beginning of the 200m. He took it on the chin. Didn't complain and walked down to the finish line after the race to give Gout a big hug and congratulate him. Gout showed the same respect in return, so this looks like a very 'friendly' rivalry.
Hopefully we see both at Stawell next weekend but it wouldn't surprise to see Kennedy withdraw. He probably needs a break and back to some training.
Not really Thry; Raelene Boyle's 100m Australian junior record stood for 55 years ... and there are many other longstanding records,
when a country is going into an Olympic hosting period all of a sudden they unleash a generation of talents in a variety of sports.
This isn't a coincidence.
Can't comment on Boyle's record. Suspect it means nought as historically one standout. An outlier if you will.
It’s not an outlier; heaps of Australian athletics records set in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s are still standing and probably will for many years to come. Unfortunately, we can’t just produce talented athletes at will, but as Lods has explained, we do have a few world class athletes in some disciplines, and that has been the case since the days of John Landy, Betty Cuthbert and Ron Clarke.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Thryleon on April 14, 2025, 11:29:23 am
I'm not sure the point you're trying to make is Thry. If you have a look at our National Track and Field records there are many that date back to the early 2000s, 1990's and even 1980s. (Darren Clark 400m, Ken Lorraway Triple Jump, Debbie Flintoff 400H) Boyle's former under 20 100metre record was set at altitude (Mexico), so breaking it was long overdue.
Advances in training methods (loading, periodization, nutrition et) in most sports mean we are producing bigger, stronger, fitter athletes. Its probably more apparent in a sport like AFL. If our current team, even missing a few, went up against one of our premiership teams from the seventies or eighties it would be a slaughter. The current side would run them ragged and hit them with a pressure game they couldn't withstand.
I just responded to kruddler (in agreement with the chinese swim team point), and then there was an attempt to correct me based on flaky stuff.
Sure, training techniques and all that. There is a limit to that stuff though.
We should likely have plateued 10 years ago, but without fail, countries seem to find a generation of young and upcoming stars in all disciplines, just in time to host a major event (which puts more local bums on seats).
It could be that funding is better leading into hosting an event, it could be a coincidence, or it could simply be that there is an element of PED use (could be legal or not) and we wont know those answers for sure.
A few other points have tried to discredit, but I suspect that the conditions on the day are more conducive to the historic records standing than other things.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 12:47:44 pm
I think we're still well off the limits of what men and women can achieve.
In some track and field events improved technology plays a part. The poles that vaulters use in the pole vault (fibreglass and carbon fibre) give a great more advantage than the bamboo amd metal poles of the past. Nutrition and sports medicine are improving all the time.
I don't think the funding for the games in Brisbane would be impacting this far out.
And PED use is not the factor it was in the days of the Eastern Bloc and select Western nations (and even a few Australians ;) ) in the 1970s and 1980s.
There are some records on the World list that shouldn't be there due to PED use, but at the time they got through.
Marita Koch (400m) holds the world record with 47.60 set in Canberra in 1985 We rate Cathy Freemans run in the Sydney Olympics (we hope and believe it was clean) but she was more than a second behind Koch's time which has never been beaten.
Women's Long Jump, Discus, Shot, Heptathlon world records were all set in the 1980's
And then there was Flo Jo in the 100 and 200, 1988 records that still elude some fantastic runners.
Men are a little better, but there are still plenty of records set in the 1990s that still stand.
You can never say for certain, and if someone popped up positive at the moment it wouldn't be a huge surprise, but widespread and systematic use, probably not. I really do doubt what we're seeing is performance enhanced, especially with the teenage athletes.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: kruddler on April 14, 2025, 01:05:20 pm
Just in terms of technology. I've heard that they had to 'handicap' the javelin because with technology people would be outthrowing the field to the point it would hit the track, so they weighted them down.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 14, 2025, 01:32:02 pm
Just in terms of technology. I've heard that they had to 'handicap' the javelin because with technology people would be outthrowing the field to the point it would hit the track, so they weighted them down.
Yep When Uwe Hohn set the World record in 1984 he threw 104.8 metres. There was a danger of it hitting someone at the other end of the stadium. At the same time there was increasing issues with many throws being called foul because the tip hadn't landed first. It's always been a bit of an issue and even to trained officials it was sometimes hard to judge.
What they did was make some alterations to the centre of balance, so the Javelin (heavier now in the forward half) came over more quickly resulting in shorter distances, and landing point first more often. New records were established with the new specs, and old Javelins could no longer be used.
It was very annoying at the time. I suddenly had four obsolete Javelins. >:(
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 16, 2025, 05:04:21 pm
Does that start with a All Inclusive Unlimited Buffet at the local Curry Shop?
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 19, 2025, 03:27:54 pm
Kennedy and Gout both win their heats at Stawell. Kennedy looked much smoother in his race, although once Gout hit his stride he looked good
The handicap nature of the event means both aren't assured of even making the finals. There's only a matter of tenths between most of the heat winners, but times are pretty irrelevant as efforts varied with each race as did the assisting winds
The fastest qualifier with a 12.13 was John Evans, who started from 9.75m He might be worth a shilling bet.
Jack Hale was also impressive in his heat.
Semis will give us a better idea on Monday.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: tonyo on April 21, 2025, 09:35:15 am
John Evans is a mate and former colleague ... but not the same bloke. Interestingly, my John Evans competed at Stawell in the 1980s but in the 400m.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 21, 2025, 04:18:18 pm
There is a bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth by some folk who are complaining about a format that sees the best runners unable to make the final.
They need to get over it. It's the way it's been for around 150 years and everyone knows exactly what the format is when they enter. Stawell itself is bigger than Gout Gout or Kennedy. The closeness of the majority of races over the weekend meant that the handicapper(s) did a pretty good job...and it makes for exciting racing. If you want to see the best against the best you can see that at the nationals.
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 23, 2025, 05:11:21 pm
The initial squad for the World Track and Field Championships has been named. Both Kennedy and Gout Gout (in his senior international debut) will be running
This squad is only a first phase grouping and the strict criteria, which included competing at domestic lead up events to nationals, means that there are still some big name yet to be added....women sprinters,Rohan Browning, Denny, Olyslagers, Jess Hull etc.
That will happen as the northern Hemisphere summer season takes place.
Australian Athletics Team – 2025 World Athletics Championships, Tokyo
100m – Lachlan Kennedy (QLD, Andrew Iselin) 200m – Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) 800m – Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi), Peyton Craig (QLD, Brendan Mallyon & Craig Mottram), Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren), Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) 1500m – Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford), Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau) 20km Race Walk – Rhydian Cowley (VIC, Brent Vallance), Jemima Montag (VIC, Brent Vallance), Rebecca Henderson (VIC, Simon Baker) 35 km Race Walk – Cowley, Olivia Sandery (SA, Jared Tallent), Elizabeth McMillen (NSW, Jared Tallent) 400m Hurdles – Sarah Carli (NSW, Abbie Taddeo) Long Jump – Liam Adcock (QLD) High Jump – Eleanor Patterson (VIC, Fayaaz Caan) Javelin Throw – Mackenzie Little (NSW, Angus McEntyre)
Australian Athletics Team – 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, New Delhi
100m – James Turner (ACT, Iryna Dvoskina, T36), Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage, T34) 200m – Mali Lovell (NSW, Katie Edwards, T36) 400m – Turner, McCracken 800m – McCracken 1500m – Reece Langdon (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy, T38), Michael Roeger (SA, Philo Saunders, T46) Long Jump – Vanessa Low (ACT, Scott Reardon, T61) Javelin Throw – Dayna Crees (VIC, Gordon Talbot, F34), Michal Burian (VIC, Dale Stevenson, F44)
Title: Re: Track and Field
Post by: Lods on April 27, 2025, 08:46:25 am
I thought after Nationals and Stawell that more than anything Kennedy and Gout probably needed a break. Gout especially looked pretty much done after the backmarkers race.
Kennedy had other ideas and headed off to China for the first of the Wanda Diamond League races.
In the 100 metre race featuring all sub 10.00 sec runners...apart from Kennedy, he has finished a creditable fifth in 10.18 (virtually no wind)
Akane Simbine a 9.82 runner was the winner in 9.99