Torrie to the World | Golden Girl to Golden Grand Prix

Winning the sprint double as an 18-year-old at the Australian Track and Field Championships, Torrie Lewis blew her cover as one of the worst-kept secrets in athletics. The speed sensation hopes to develop the mental skills to unlock her physical potential during her maiden international campaign, beginning at Sunday’s Yokohama Golden Grand Prix.

Setting a personal best of 11.23 (+0.5) at the Sydney Track Classic, the Queensland teenager came within 0.03-seconds of Raelene Boyle’s Australian Under 20 record from the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Lewis did little to extinguish the comparisons, fuelling the fire with Open Australian titles over 100m and 200m in consecutive days in April.

“It definitely surprised me! I was hoping to finish on the podium but to win, especially both of them, really reassured me that I am on the right track,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ arrival on the world stage comes the year after she was touted as one of the nation’s top medal prospects at the 2022 World Under 20 Championships in Cali, forced to withdraw prior to departure with a hamstring injury.

“It had good and bad parts. Obviously I was super upset that I couldn’t run at World Juniors, but it also gave me a chance to focus on my technique and other aspects of the race. Seeing all my friends over there definitely motivated me,” Lewis said.

Drawing inspiration from Kiwi rival Zoe Hobbs who became the first Oceanian woman to shatter 11-seconds at this year’s Sydney Track Classic, Lewis is acutely aware that her physical gift alone is unlikely to carry her to the heights she is determined to reach.  

“I obviously have the potential, but a lot of other people also have that. You want to believe in yourself but you never really know if you can get down to those low-11’s or even go sub like Zoe Hobbs.

“I think it’s just the mindset. It comes down to if you can handle the training and the competition, are you able to go to Europe and compete how you compete at home? That is going to be a real test for me when I get there to see if I can handle running internationally with really competitive people.”

Boarding her first long flight since the age of six, the 18-year-old has minimal expectations for her first individual race on international soil at Sunday’s Golden Grand Prix in Yokohama, balancing realistic expectations with her intrinsic competitiveness.

“It’s not an experiment but I don’t know what to expect yet. I’m just looking forward to the experience of racing around the world, because as an athlete that’s pretty much the goal,” Lewis said.

“In Europe, it’s about getting that experience and hoping I can produce my best times.”

With Sunday’s 100m race spearheaded by 10.97-second Kiwi Zoe Hobbs and the USA’s Destiny Smith-Barnett (11.06), Lewis will be joined by Bree Masters as the Australians look to stamp their presence on the Continental Tour Gold meeting.

Training alongside 100m world champion Fred Kerley and coach Alleyne Francique during their stint down under, the emerging sprinter quickly identified key areas that can elevate her performances on the world stage in the years to come.  

“It’s just crazy how much more speed and power Fred has. Francique was really helpful, he was taking videos of a few of my starts and giving me feedback – there is definitely a huge improvement in there which is really looking good for the future,” Lewis said.

Lewis is one 18 Australians competing in Yokohama, with viewers in Australia able to tune in via the World Athletics YouTube channel and full start lists to be found HERE.

100m – Torrie Lewis, Bree Masters, Rohan Browning, Jake Doran.

3000m – Rose Davies, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Jude Thomas, Jack Bruce.

100m/110m Hurdles – Celeste Mucci, Hannah Jones, Jacob McCorry.

3000m Steeplechase – Matthew Clarke.

Javelin – Kelsey-Lee Barber, Mackenzie Little, Cameron McEntyre.

Long Jump – Brooke Bushkuehl, Henry Frayne.

High Jump – Joel Baden.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 20/5/2023