Australian sprint sensation Eddie Nketia is talking up his potential to run even faster at the Commonwealth Games after a succession of eye-catching times. Nketia will make his Australian debut in Glasgow after switching late last year from New Zealand. He is one of the headline names in the 86-athlete track and field team named on Monday.
Nketia's Recent Performances
The 25-year-old’s performances in the last few months have featured a wind-assisted 9.74 seconds for the blue-riband 100m. The Commonwealth Games record is Usain Bolt’s 9.88 seconds, set at Glasgow in 2014. Bolt also set the world record of 9.58 in 2009.
Ambitions for Glasgow
Asked at the team announcement if he can run faster, Nketia replied: “I would love to — I want to run as fast as I can. If we can get a 9.6, we get a 9.6, if we can get the world record, we get the world record. But it’s just going to start from execution.”
Glasgow teammate Lachie Kennedy holds the Australian record of 9.98. The athletics selections complete the Australian team for Glasgow, with 258 competitors across 10 sports.
Key Athletes in the Team
Discus star Matt Denny, milers Ollie Hoare and Jessica Hull, pole vaulters Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall, and race walker Jemima Montag are other big names in the athletics team. While Gout Gout opted out of the Games, Nketia and Kennedy will spearhead a powerful Australian contingent in the men’s sprint events.
Nketia on the Future of Australian Sprinting
“It’s beautiful ... the future’s bright and it’s going to be awesome, seeing what I can do for the green and gold,” Nketia said. “Seeing Gout Gout, Lachie Kennedy - it’s not just Glasgow, (but) the future. The relay, the depth, it’s just going to do wonders for the future of ... sprinting.”
