“But it felt pretty good. I came off the bend and I just kept sending it. I felt the wind behind me, so I was like, let me just use it. And then I saw the clock, and when it got rounded down (to a sub-20 time), I just couldn’t be happier.”
Gout’s 20.05s was just 0.01s slower than his national record (20.04s) set in December last year when he broke Norman’s long-standing record of 20.06s at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
It is also the quickest 200m time in the world this year, albeit it is still out of season for most of the rest of the world.
To make the performance more impressive, Gout was effectively racing himself. He won the race by more than 30m (second place ran 22.22s) so was far from being pushed to run a quick time. It was legal wind of +1.2 metres/second.
Gout celebrates his eyecatching run.Credit: Australian Athletics
Both performances on Sunday are big statements about where the year 12 Ipswich schoolboy is at.
The first legal run in the 200m heat reaffirms the idea that his record-breaking performance at All-Schools last year was not a one-off, and he is backing it up with consistently quick times.
While the time from his sub-20s run in the final won’t be recognised due to the illegal tailwind, it will confirm in his mind he can roll his legs through fast enough to get him down the track in under 20 seconds.
“It feels great because I’ve been at that stage, watching Usain Bolt on the news and just getting goosebumps. Giving people goosebumps, it definitely feels great and I wish I can continue giving people more goosebumps that’s for sure,” he said.
“In my heat, there was no crowd, so when I came out (for the final) from warming up, I looked up behind me and there was this huge crowd. It just helps me fun faster, for sure.“
Gout also said that his coach Di Sheppard had him in a heavy training load at the moment, building towards the upcoming Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne.
Gout broke 20 seconds in the 200m final, but the time was wind-assisted.Credit: Australian Athletics
The context of Gout’s record-breaking run in December was that it was quicker than Usain Bolt ran the 200m at the same age.
Meanwhile, Olympic 100m semi-finalist Rohan Browning suggested he is returning to his best form after a long period battling a chronic knee problem, running a sharp 10.12 seconds in the 100m – his best performance to open a season.
“I think I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, I feel really robust, able to run around, and now I’m looking forward to the crown jewels of the domestic season,” the 27-year-old said.
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“I didn’t want to run until I was ready to run quick. It was rusty but the landscape has changed so much. (Lachie) Kennedy, Gout, Josh Azzopardi (have emerged) but I think I have some life left in me.”
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