Queensland sprint sensation Gout Gout produced another dazzling performance at his final GPS (Great Public Schools) Championships — the state’s inter-school athletics meet featuring Queensland’s most elite private schools — clocking 46.14 seconds to win the 400 metres and defeat reigning Australian U20 champion Seth Kennedy.
Kennedy, 17, representing Brisbane Grammar, was strong through the final 200m following a fast first half from Gout, but couldn’t catch the world championship 200m representative down the home straight. Kennedy’s time of 46.64 was just outside his personal best of 46.62, set earlier this year at the Australian Junior Championships in Perth. The performance came only hours after Kennedy broke the meet record in the 200 metres with a stunning 20.64 (+0.8), his first time under 21 seconds. Gout did not contest the 200m.
The victory cemented Gout’s reputation as one of Australia’s brightest young talents. He later returned to anchor his Ipswich Grammar School 4x100m relay team to another meet record, scorching the track in 41.30 seconds to cap a dominant day for his school.
Held in front of a raucous crowd of thousands of schoolboys, the GPS Championships are renowned for their atmosphere. This year’s event carried a World Athletics ‘F’ category permit, meaning all performances are officially recognised for record and world ranking purposes, further underscoring the quality on display.
Between Gout’s composure and Kennedy’s record-breaking double, Queensland’s GPS Championships once again proved to be one of the most electric showcases of junior athletics talent anywhere in the country.
