Teenager Torrie Lewis announces herself as Australia’s fastest ever woman

19-year-old sprint sensation Torrie Lewis has tonight earned the title of the fastest Australian woman in history, etching her name into the record books with a run of 11.10 (+1.6) over 100m at the ACT Open and Under 20 Championships.

Eclipsing Melissa Breen’s 2014 Open record of 11.11 and Raelene Boyle’s Under 20 record of 11.20 from 1968, Lewis surpassed Australian athletics royalty with the record-breaking feat to launch her Olympic campaign, building on the form which saw her win the sprint double at the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships.

“To me it is finally, 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,” Lewis said.

Setting a new personal best of 11.21 (+0.4) in the heats, Lewis warmed into her work in the final before stretching away from the field in the back half of the race - treating the crowd at the Australian Institute of Sport to a slice of history.

“That junior record which I have been very close to, I’m glad to get under it finally. I came into this competition not even really focusing on the 100m, wanting to focus more on the 200m [Sunday]. This is probably the most relaxed I have been in a competition and to be honest it paid off,” Lewis said.

Following in the footsteps of three-time Olympic medallist Raelene Boyle and two-time Olympian Melissa Breen, the rising star coached by Andrew Iselin fell just shy of the 11.07 qualifying standard for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, allowing her to dream big in 2024.

“I just think in sport, I want to get so far and I want to do the best I can. I want to go to the Olympics and do everything, so these leaps that I am making are on the road to getting there,” Lewis said.

Eligible for both the 2024 Olympic Games in July and 2024 World Under 20 Championships to be held in Lima, Peru in August, the Queenslander is set to only build on her international debut at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

“Canberra is a great one to start at! It’s a great track and always good conditions. With the Olympic year, the goal for the season is to try and run around that similar time, which should get me pretty close to qualifying,” Lewis said.

“Two weeks after the Olympics is the World Juniors in Peru, so that’s still on the cards hopefully. They are the two big ones for me this season.”

Now former Australian record holder Melissa Breen took to social media to congratulate the teenage sensation:

“Records are made to be broken. It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to be the Australian record holder of the 100m for almost a decade. Congratulations Torrie Lewis, coach Andrew Iselin and your entire team. The baton is now yours, carry it with pride & purpose every day.”

The record comes just one day after Paralympic powerhouse Vanessa Low bettered her own T61 long jump world record with a 5.33m at the same meet.

The ACT Open and Under 20 Championships conclude tomorrow and can be live streamed via Capital Athletics. Full results can be found here.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/1/2023