Teen speedster Torrie Lewis completes historic sprint double
Torrie Lewis has surprised herself by doing the sprint double at the Australian championships. Photo: AAP
Rising star Torrie Lewis has created history on the final day of the 100th national track and field championships as the second youngest Australian to do the sprint double.
The 18-year-old even shocked herself by the way she was able to back up from Saturday’s breakthrough 100m victory to claim the 200m title in a personal best of 23.02 seconds.
Ella Connolly (23.16) and Riley Day (23.24) rounded out a Queensland trifecta.
“Doing the double was way more than I could have expected,” said Lewis.
“To be honest I came in with high hopes for the 100.
“But the situation wasn’t the best coming into the championships and for the 200 I just didn’t really feel fit enough.
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“So to come in and win, especially with the back-end strength, I’m pretty happy.”
The only other Australian to do the double at a younger age was Glenys Beasley way back in 1962.
Lewis’s surprise victory in the half-lap race could force a rethink in her priorities in the buildup to August’s world championships in Budapest.
“Yesterday I would have told you the 100 was the main target for sure,” she said.
“Now it’s a case of whatever on the day.
“It’s a surprise for me and for you and then there’s always the relay too.”
Lewis did not get the best of starts in the 200m final but she made up for that with a powerhouse finish as she stripped four-hundredths of a second off her personal best.
“I was that close to going sub-23,” Lewis said.
“Hopefully this is the season to get it.”
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Ultra-consistent Catriona Bisset set a championships record of 1:58.32 to win the women’s 800m.
The race came at the ideal time for the Victorian, who is back to full fitness after suffering a minor hamstring injury earlier this year.
“When I was standing on the start line, I had a bit more excitement and energy than I usually do,” Bisset said.
“Going down the back straight I was like, ‘I’ve got another gear, let’s really pump this’.”
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Michelle Jenneke also locked in her spot for the world titles in Budapest by claiming a second national title in the 100m hurdles in 12.77.
It was the fifth time the 29-year-old had dipped under the automatic qualifying standard of 12.78.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers won the women’s high jump with 1.95m and Jake Doran took gold in the men’s 200m in 20.81.
-AAP
