Lewis to return to scene of Australian record at Chemist Warehouse Canberra Track Classic

Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis will return to the scene of her record-breaking triumph at next Saturday’s Chemist Warehouse Canberra Track Classic, with the teen sensation fit and firing to bolster her Paris Olympic campaign on March 2.

The 19-year-old Queenslander stole the show at last month’s ACT Open and Under 20 Championships, stunning the athletics world when clocking a groundbreaking time of 11.10 to rewrite the Australian record books.

Etching her name into the annals of Australian sprinting royalty next to previous record holders Melissa Breen (11.11) and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (11.12), Lewis is now eyeing another stellar performance at the Australian Institute of Sport, having also surpassed Raelene Boyle’s Under 20 national record of 11.20 from 1968.

Lewis’ return to Canberra is not just a competition, but a homecoming to the track where she put the nation on notice.

“There’s nothing more exciting than running fast times,” Lewis stated, reflecting on her season opener.

“Every time I step on the track now, I’m wanting to improve upon that record, and I have all happy memories from Canberra now, so I’m looking forward to going back to that track and getting another fast time on the board.”

The teenage phenom will face an all-Australian line up in her quest to achieve the 11.07 qualifying standard for the Olympic Games, featuring three of the fastest top-10 Australian women in history including Naa Anang (11.20) and Bree Masters (11.23), as they join the likes of Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mia Gross and World Championships representative Kristie Edwards for the dash down the straight.

The Chemist Warehouse Canberra Track Classic will take place on Saturday, March 2 from 2pm and is the third one-day meet within the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series.

The meet is also supported by the ACT Government and will be streamed live and free on 7plus from 5pm AEDT. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

By Sascha Ryner and Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 22/2/2024