Sprint sensation Torrie Lewis has become Australia’s fastest woman, running the 100m in 11.10s.
Competing at the ACT Under 20 & Open Championships on Saturday, the 19-year-old from Brisbane overtook the previous 11.11s record, which was held by Melissa Breen for nearly a decade. She was well clear of the U20 record of 11.20s set by Raelene Boyle in 1968.
But despite entering the history books, Lewis has not yet qualified for the Paris Olympics which has a new entry barrier of 11.07s – down from the 11.15s cutoff at the Tokyo games.
“I didn’t know my time,” she told Nine newspapers after the race. “I looked for the clock but I heard this big gasp and the next thing all the girls were running to me and saying ‘You have the record’.”
At the age of 14, Lewis ran the 100m in 11.91s and she last year competed in the world championships in Budapest.
“I’ve been after times like these for what seems like ages now, never letting myself think too much of it, but always wanting to get there,” she told News.com.au.
“I came into this competition not even really focusing on the 100m, wanting to focus more on the 200m [on Sunday night].
“This is probably the most relaxed I have been in a competition and to be honest, it paid off.”
The “baton is now yours”, Breen told Lewis via X. “Records are made to be broken … Congratulations Torrie Lewis, coach Andrew Iselin & your entire team.”
Records are made to be broken. It’s been an absolute honour & privilege to be the Australian record holder of the 100m for almost a decade. Congratulations Torrie Lewis, coach Andrew Iselin & your entire team. The baton is now yours, carry it with pride & purpose every day ❤️
— Melissa Breen OLY (@Melissa_Breen) January 27, 2024
Lewis said she thinks she will “definitely” be part of Australia’s Paris team because of the roll down of world rankings, in which unfilled slots are allocated to those who haven’t achieved the qualifying time.
“World juniors is also later this year and my goal is for a top three to five finish there,” she told Nine. “At the Olympics my goal is to make the semi-final. I don’t have as much expectation at the Olympics [at my age].”
Lewis will need to better another of Boyle’s records, 200m in 22.74s, to become U20 record holder in the sprint double.
She will now aim to beat her own 100m time at the Adelaide Invitational on 10 February and the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on 15 February.
