Day Three of the 2025 Australian Open and Under 20 Athletics Championships delivered a dose of drama and dominance, with the nation’s best sprinters separated by thousandths of a second—and its finest middle-distance talents proving that sometimes, the best tactic is simply to go.
Photos by Chiara Montesano courtesy of Australian Athletics
In the men’s 100m, Rohan Browning reminded the athletics world of his championship pedigree, out of the blocks well and maintaining his form to perfection to edge out Lachlan Kennedy in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it finish. Both men clocked 10.01—with Browning getting the nod by five-thousandths of a second (10.001 to 10.016) in one of the tightest title races in Australian history.
“I came to Perth looking for a qualifier and a sub-10, and neither happened,” said Browning, who equalled his personal best set at the 2021 Olympics.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a Championship—and all you need to do is win.”
“I had all the training data to suggest that I’m in the best shape of my life but I hadn’t showcased that to anybody. I wanted to come out and remind these guys who their Dad is!”
Meanwhile, the Women’s 100m final was somehow even closer. National record holder Torrie Lewis went to the line with emerging teenage star Leah O’Brien, with the scoreboard eventually declaring Lewis the winner: 11.24 (0.236) to 11.24 (0.240). Bree Rizzo was just behind in 11.25 to round out an extraordinary podium.
“To have a 17-year-old run second in that field—it’s amazing,” said 20-year-old Lewis.
“She said she’d run eight races already before this, so she’s run so well in these Championships. I’m just so happy to be able to win a race as exciting as that.”
But it wasn’t just the straight-line speedsters putting on a show. The women’s and men’s 1500m finals became masterclasses in old-school championship racing, with a modern twist of leading into the bell for fast last lap victories to Jessica Hull and Cameron Myers.
In the women’s race, Hull used her experience and gears to repel a late charge from Sarah Billings, winning in 4:11.36 after launching her move just before the bell. The final 800m was covered in under 2 minutes and 3 seconds with a final lap of 57.03 seconds (with Billings running an even faster 56.69s)—evidence of a well-timed burn from the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist.
“I wanted to make people either commit or run for second,” Hull said. “At the top of the straight, I heard Dad yell to use my gears—and I had to hold my nerve.”
Cameron Myers did more than hold his nerve. After a moderated first 300m in 45.66 seconds the 18-year-old was relentless, seizing control from the outset and refusing to let go. With a 1:50.40 final 800m, including a 54.52 final lap, Myers held off defending champion Adam Spencer and Commonwealth gold medallist Ollie Hoare to claim the title in 3:34.39, adding yet another layer to a resume that already includes a World Under 20 record.
Similarly to the women’s race, second placed Spencer covered the final lap quicker than the winner Myers (53.74s, with a final 800m of 1:49.67), and it was the latter’s decisiveness in the lead that secured victory. Full lap splits of all distance races at the championships are available.
Cooper Sherman took out the 400m in a personal best of 45.26 seconds, while Ellie Beer won the women’s race in 51.42 seconds ahead of a personal best from the fast finishing Bella Pasquali, who clocked 51.84 seconds.
Matt Clarke took out the steeplechase in 8:34.75 from Ben Buckingham after a fall from a fast finishing Mick Stanovsek over the final barrier looked to deny him victory.
In the field, Mackenzie Little stamped her authority on the Javelin with a 59.17m opener that proved unmatchable, and Desleigh Owusu soared to another personal best in the Triple Jump, recording 13.75m (+1.5) to take the win.
From ruthless rhythm changes to razor-thin margins, Perth’s penultimate day of championship racing had it all. And with more finals still to come – including a match up between Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy over 200m – the drama is far from over.
