Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy celebrates after winning the 100m sprint and breaking 10 seconds for the first time at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi Photograph: Daniel Irungu/EPA

• Sprinter clocks 9.98s with legal 0.7m tailwind at Kip Keino Classic

• 21-year-old becomes second Australian to run under 10 seconds

Sprint sensation Lachie Kennedy has joined one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs as just the second Australian to legally better the 10-second barrier for the 100m.

Competing at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), Kennedy claimed the win against a strong field, stopping the clock at 9.98 seconds with the aid of a slight 0.7m tailwind.

Lachie Kennedy runs 10 seconds flat for second-best 100m by an Australian Read more

Teen sensation Gout Gout and Rohan Browning have also recently threatened to go sub-10 on multiple occasions, but it’s the 21-year-old Kennedy who has reached the magic milestone first.

The only other Australian to achieve the celebrated feat was national record holder Patrick Johnson, who ran a sizzling 9.93 in Mito, Japan in 2003.

“I was there to win today and bring it home, and I am super-stoked to get the win and the time,” Kennedy said. “It’s so good. I can finally say I have run nine.

“I haven’t wanted to rush it or put the pressure on myself, I take every race as it comes and I knew it would come eventually.”

How about that ‼️

Lachlan Kennedy rules at the @KipKeinoClassic .

9.98 PB to win the 100m and move up to 2nd on the Australian all-time list ContinentalTourGold pic.twitter.com/0aP4dxKMls

Kennedy relegated Paris Olympics relay silver medallist Bayanda Walaza from South Africa (10.03) and hometown hero Ferdinand Omanyala (10.07) to the minor placings.

“The crowd was nuts out there,” Kennedy said. “I think there was early movement from someone in the first part of the race, but it actually did me good. It settled the nerves so I was pretty confident out there today.

“I didn’t think a nine was realistic until a couple of years ago.

When I was still playing rugby but starting to train and realising I had some speed, I made it the goal.”

Kennedy first shot to international prominence when he pocketed silver in the 60m at the World Indoors in China in March.