Jonathan Gault says you have to "wonder a bit" about Gout Gout's 19.67 as the top 5 all PBd by at least .21 - Do you agree?

Jonathon Gault you need to do more research before casting doubt about the 200m performances in the Australian Championships.

Apart from Gout Gout who had run 19.84 (2.2m/s) before 19.67 (1.7m/s)...not a huge improvement.

Aidan Murphy 19.88 ...previous best 20.41 in 2022 (18 years old) also he is the best shape of his life ..pbs in the 100m (10.23) and 400m (44.81) in 2026.

Caleb Law previous best 20.42 in 2021 (18 years old).. .pb 100m 10.17 in 2025

Chris Ius previous best 20.55...pb 100m 10.18 in 2026

Rory Easton...previous best 20.51....pb 100m 10.34 (21 years old)

Archer McHugh......20.37....pb 100m 10.42 (21 year old)

The conditions at Sydney were perfect for sprinting (verified wind reading and timing...conducted by verified officials). The athletes had the best conditions and a very good Gout Gout to try and beat (it was a Championship race so they would all want to do their best).

I listen to the LetsRun podcasts and I am amazed how poor some of your knowledge is of athletes and athletics in general and please stop exaggerating athletes performance times...eg Sam Ruthe mile 3:48.88....you say 3:48.....if you are rounding then it should be 3:49...this happens with many performance you report...not accurate.

Also, laid new March 2026 Premium Rekortan Gel G13 track system, which includes improved shock absorption and energy return needs to be factored in.

It is appropriate to consider the impact (pun intended) of shoes on times. But it is also appropriate to consider the impact of a newly laid track. A bouncy track, like Hayward Field U of O, is great for distance runners. "Carpet" tracks, on the other hand (or foot) make the sprints sizzle. I would bet on the track for the PBs, assuming no timing error.

"I listen to the LetsRun podcasts and I am amazed how poor some of your knowledge is of athletes and athletics in general and please stop exaggerating athletes performance times...eg Sam Ruthe mile 3:48.88....you say 3:48.....if you are rounding then it should be 3:49...this happens with many performance you report...not accurate."

Someone correct this man. On Letsrun every time is rounded down, so 3:48.8 is "3:48", not "3:49". Everybody is faster on Letsrun - if not actually that fast on the track.

In its assessment of likely doping WADA has said a red flag is when a group of athletes from a nation make a sudden dramatic improvement. I await news of AIU interest in Australia.

So somebody runs 3:49.99 for the mile is quoted as 3:49 on LetsRun..very stupid.

State the actual time...be accurate... don't make it sound better than it is.

This is how all discussion of times has worked in every track and field context since at least Roger Bannister's 3:59.

Roger Bannister did not run 3:59 he ran 3:59.4.......the fractions of second matter especially when they a records. There is a big difference in a 100m between 9.90 and 9.99 they both aren't 9.9.

Not only that - he was in his final year of school last year when he ran those times, and since Nov-Dec has been a full time athlete, with more time for recovery etc. It is a pretty normal progression.

Calling into question the length of the track is just absurd. All the other races had normal times so did it just get shorter for this race? Computers have assessed times for each 50m as well.

I've expanded the Gout Gout section in the WTW into it's own article where I talk about FloJo.

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2026/04/why-gout-gouts-19-67-was-amazing-but-not-repeatable-unicorn-conditions-matter/

Fixed your post.

Look, I get it. These Aussie track fans haven't had a world-class sprinter to root for since 1968 so they are uptight.

We aren't ripping Gout Gout. We are just pointing out he had great conditions to run fast.

Which is more likely?

1) 5 guys ran massive 0.20 pbs in the same race or

2) they were aided by a perfect tailwind- probanly one not fully reflected by the 1.7 m/s wind.

Obviously the answer is #2.

Don't misunderstand me. The following things are what I beleive.

Gout Gout is a HUGE talent. Gout Gout was aided by a HUGE tailwind.

Is there a way to legally bet on this? I'll bet whatever people want at even money odds that Gout Gout doesn't break 19.67 again wind-legal in 2026. My budd is a poker pro. I'll get him to finance me if you anyone wants to bet 5 figures or more.

Yes.

2nd had an old PB and had a big jump in 400 times this year. Maybe he had a good 12 months of uninterrupted prep leading in.

4th I know - he has focussed more on the 2000 than the 100 this year and has run a 100 PB this year too.

National race, tapered athletes, great conditions, they know it will be quick and all go for it - not hard to believe at all. You realise athletes aim to peak at the nationals in Australia, right?

While true to some degree, also scientists largely left, which is really sad. Twitter used to have an extremely strong scientific community of experts discussing their latest research. So its definitely increased in usership, but its not just the left who have left (scientists are typically a-political, eventhough many are on the left in their personal lives).

I know thee track very well - in summer in Sydney, when it's warm, you get an afternoon nor-easter, perfect 200 conditions. The straight runs north-south and the stadium is on the west off the straight, so the wind from the NE is unobstructed.

I actually looked at thee weather that day just after the rest - you're right the wind was a prevailing NW or N, but Aidan Murphy said in an interview on set he could feel it behind him, after being in their face when getting down on to the blocks.

The wind does swirl a bit in that stadium too.

It could have died a bit as they hit the straight and the wind gauge measured it.

This (nice wind on the bend) plus a bunch of athletes being in good form and peaking on a brand new fast track - it's perfectly believable.

And now we have 2 - or even 3 with Murphy.

Kennedy ran 9.96 twice at that comp, including in the final in not great conditions - a bit cool and minimal wind. He is in 9.80s shape this season with better conditions.

No he’s not.

Well, we'll see

It's exactly the way you give md and distance times yourself very often.

When are you born? 1953, you would answer.

It hasn't. Bannister's time was always given as 3:59.4.

Aiming to peak doesn't typically produce a whole field of personal bests or we would see that at every championship. We don't.