Lachlan Kennedy has sprinted into the spotlight once more, breaking the elusive 10-second mark to claim his first national 100m title and secure a place at the Commonwealth Games.

At just 22, Kennedy showcased extraordinary speed, clocking in at 9.96 seconds under legal conditions during Saturday’s final at the national championships held at Sydney Olympic Park.

Following Kennedy’s remarkable performance, Josh Azzopardi finished second with a time of 10.16 seconds, while last year’s champion, Rohan Browning, was just 0.03 seconds behind, landing him in third place.

Before Kennedy’s feat, Patrick Johnson was the sole Australian to have run the 100m in under 10 seconds, setting a national record of 9.93 seconds in Mito, Japan, back in 2003.

Reflecting on his victory, Kennedy expressed his hopes for the future, saying, “Hopefully that’s just the standard now, hey?”

Pictured: Lachie Kennedy streaks away from the rest of the field to take the national 100m sprint title in a time of 9.96 seconds

Kennedy (pictured celebrating the win on Saturday night in Sydney) ran an identical time in the heats to become the first Australian to break the 10-second barrier legally for the 100m on home soil

The electrifying performance means Kennedy is in doubt to run the 200m at the national championships against his friend and rival, Queensland’s Gout Gout

He added with determination, “I needed the win. I needed to be national champ. I needed to say I had it.”

Such a performance has left Kennedy in doubt for a mouth-watering 200m showdown against teen sensation Gout Gout.

Kennedy pipped Gout to complete a 100m-200m double for the second successive year at last month’s Maurie Plant Meet.

‘I can’t give you a 100 per cent yes or no,’ Kennedy said of the 200m.

‘We’ll see how the body pulls up.’

Ignoring fireworks from the nearby Sydney Easter Show to nail his sizzling run, Kennedy said he felt there was no ceiling on what he could do.

The Queenslander is out to shave his time to 9.8 this year as he eyes gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

‘I want to be a two-time national champ next year, three times, as long as I can,’ Kennedy said.

Kennedy pipped Gout (pictured together) to complete a 100m-200m double for the second successive year at last month’s Maurie Plant Meet

The 22-year-old (pictured centre during his win) wants to bring his 100m time down to 9.8 seconds as he chases gold at the Commonwealth Games later this year

‘I was gassed a little bit after the semi, but the fact I was able to come out after that and run that time just shows I’ve got so many more things to work on.

‘Yeah, sky’s the limit.’

Newly-crowned 1500m champion Claudia Hollingsworth appears poised to take the 800m title after middle-distance star Jessica Hull withdrew from Saturday’s heats due to soreness.

Hull had been in the box seat to nab her fourth-straight national 1500m crown on the second day of competition on Friday before falling over while leading in the final straight following a challenge from Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth crossed the finish line first in 4:17.06, but was initially disqualified after two separate protests.

The 20-year-old was later reinstated as the race winner on Saturday after a successful appeal, before going on to win her 800m heat in 2:03.18.

Hull will still aim to compete in the 5000m on Sunday, having originally set herself the goal of winning an unprecedented middle-distance treble.

A request for a rerun of the 1500m was denied, with Athletics Australia saying it was not feasible to restage the race in Sydney.

Given the championships are also qualifiers for this year’s Commonwealth Games, the status of the 1500m as a selection race is under review.

‘I haven’t contacted Jess. There’s no bad blood from my end, and I’m sure there’s not from her,’ Hollingsworth said on Saturday.

‘We’re both mature athletes, and we both want the best for each other.’

Olympic champion Nina Kennedy was untouchable in the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.65m to clinch her fifth national title after an injury-wrecked 2025.

Peter Bol clocked 1:48.98 to cruise into the men’s 800m final, but Peyton Craig missed out on a spot after a diving effort from Degras Amekata to the finish line relegated the Paris Olympian to third in his heat.