Sweet feat: high schooler smashes Raelene Boyle's 57-year-old sprint record

Australian sprinting has a new superstar in the making! In a jaw-dropping performance at the national junior athletics championships in Perth, 17-year-old Leah O’Brien rocketed to glory, obliterating a 57-year-old record set by the legendary Raelene Boyle.

O’Brien, a WA schoolgirl, stunned the athletics world by storming to victory in the under-18 100 metres, clocking an electrifying 11.14 seconds – with a perfectly legal tailwind of +1.7 metres per second. Her blistering run toppled Boyle’s iconic mark of 11.20 seconds from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, a record many believed would stand for generations.

“I think I have really put my name out there,” an elated O’Brien said, beaming with pride. “It's crazy to be running these times while still in high school!”

But the milestones didn’t stop there. O’Brien’s dazzling dash also catapulted her into Australian sprinting history, drawing level with Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson on the all-time national open 100m list – now tied at fourth-fastest ever. Only Torrie Lewis (11.10), Melissa Breen (11.11) and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (11.12) have ever run faster.

To make the feat even sweeter, O’Brien now finds herself ranked ninth in the world under-18 rankings, a remarkable achievement for the young star.

Cheered on by family and friends, O’Brien soaked up the moment. “This is definitely the most support I’ve ever had. It’s so great to experience this moment with the people I love and share the happiness.”

And she wasn’t done yet.

Earlier in the championships, O’Brien also stormed to victory in the 200m, clocking a personal best of 23.37 seconds despite facing a stiff headwind of -1.1 m/s. In a thrilling race, she powered past Queensland’s Thewbelle Philp with her trademark long stride and high knee lift, leaving the field in her wake.

The sprint sensation isn’t slowing down anytime soon. O’Brien will return to the track this week at the WA Athletics Stadium to contest the open 100m, where she’ll face established stars like Torrie Lewis, Bree Rizzo and Ebony Lane.

With talents like O’Brien, Lewis, Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy rising rapidly through the ranks, Australia’s sprinting future looks brighter than ever as the countdown to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics begins.

Images: Australian Athletics