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Gout Gout misses out on 200m final but says better performances are ‘coming’

Gout Gout misses out on 200m final but says better performances are ‘coming’

Australia's Gout Gout takes the bend in his 200m semi-final.
Australia’s Gout Gout takes the bend in his 200m semi-final. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Tokyo adventure ends for the year 12 student after he ran 20.36, while Torrie Lewis fails to reach the women’s final

The promising debut of Gout Gout on the international stage has come to an end after he was eliminated at the world championships in a competitive semi-final in Tokyo.

The 17-year-old finished fourth in his race behind winner Bryan Levell, and missed out on the two additional time-based qualification places on offer after running a 20.36sec.

Although Torrie Lewis couldn’t progress in the women’s 200m either, Australia’s middle distance runners and high jumpers found success in the National Stadium on Thursday.

Australia’s Eleanor Patterson during high jump qualification in Tokyo.Australia’s Eleanor Patterson during high jump qualification in Tokyo. Photograph: Matthias Schräder/AP

Three Australian women reached the semis in the 800m, including Jess Hull who was reinstated after being a victim of contact.

And for the first time, two Australians will race in a 5000m world championships final.

Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson both progressed to the final in the high jump without a miss.

Gout Gout and Naeem Jack in the 200m
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In the men’s 200m, Gout’s time was marginally slower than the 20.23sec he ran in his heat, and was well off the 20.02sec he produced to lower his own national record in a meet in Czechia in June.

But he was positive afterwards, and said he would build on this experience.

“Semi-finalist, and to go out there and compete against the big guys, I couldn’t be prouder of myself for sure,” the teenager said.

Although he failed to improve on his personal best in Tokyo, his performances in the past two days represent a solid first major championships for the year 12 student.

“Obviously, I was aiming for that sub-two [20 seconds], but today wasn’t the day, God didn’t allow it today, but I know for sure in the future, it’s going to be coming.”

The Australian would have needed to run 19.97sec to make the final, and the fastest qualifier, Noah Lyles, recorded the fastest time this year with 19.51sec.

Gout was the youngest athlete to compete in the 200m at the World Championships in Tokyo.

He will soon return to Brisbane to complete his QCE exams, but not before watching Friday’s final.

“It’s definitely going to be a great final to watch, I’m going be cheering for Noah for sure,” he said.

Lewis finished fourth in her semi in a time of 22.69sec, 13 hundredths slower than her time in the heats, but the 20-year-old said she was still happy with how the meet went.

“A pretty good championships I would say, two PBs, that’s what I asked for coming in.”

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