39.7 and Johnson smashes the Australian record.

[Egan]

Austadiums - Breaking News

On a hot and humid day the Telstra A Series headed to the out of date Perry Lakes Stadium. No one would have predicted what was to happen at the 1964 Commonwealth Games Stadium. Little did we know that Johnson was in the form of his life with a blistering 9.88 second run in the final against Di Castella and Shirvington.

Johnson lined up in the heat of the day with a 3.1 m illegal head wind and destroyed the 10 second barrier with a time of 9.90. Yet although dissapointed his time wasnt recorded ( due to illegal head wind). Johnson smashed the 9.90 record again with a time of 9.88 in the final against a strong feild. Once again with an illegal headwind.

Johnson will be ready again to smash the 10 second mark and "officially" claim the australian title he more then deserves from campatriot Matt Shirvington.

In other news Cathy Freeman won in her first 400 m for a year and won in 52.54 much to the delight of the 6000 odd spectators on hand to watch the golden girl in what could be her last appearance in Perth.

By Chris Egan

[Dan]

Egan....

Merv hughes could've run 9.88 with that tailwind!!!!

Apart from that,great effort,but his test will be when the wind is legal...
Shirvo's 10.03 is STILL the Australian record.I will be then impressed when he breaks that one...

[argee]

I think that with that sort of tailwind, 9.88 converts to around about 10.01-10.04 if the legal max of 2.0 metres/sec was present- so an outstanding effort. With Shirvo out injured, Johnson will need to step up and hopefully make the final at the Paris World C'Ships this year. Once you're in the final, who knows what can happen if you have that sort of speed under you.

[Jeffles]

It's still a positive for Australian Athletics. Argee is right about Johnston's need to progress well in Paris. A good semi final run can do anything. We shall see.

[Jeffles]

It's still a positive for Australian Athletics. Argee is right about Johnston's need to progress well in Paris. A good semi final run can do anything. We shall see.

Interesting to note Egan that the Daily Telegaph in Sydney reports the crowd as 3000.

[Egan]

They dont know Perry Lakes Stadium like I do hehehe. Sydney Newspapers phew... 3000...

Anyway dont exactly know how many turned up but it was more then 3000. The whole western grandstand was full.

[Egan]

Patrick Johnson has finally had a legal run of 9.93 in Mito Japan confirming that hes in the form of his life at the ripe old age of 30. Today at 3:30 pm Western Standard time we should know how well Johnson is travelling, his biggest test of the season at Osaka against world record holder Tim Montgomery. From his best time in Perth he has shown consistency throughout the season, but maybe today he could be the new pin up of australian athletics. Gone is Matt Shirvington all attention is on Johnson as he has become the fastest man ever from Australia!

We wish you luck today Johnson, hopefully you can show the rest of the world how good you really are, although that was confirmed to me in Perth when you ran a 9.88 sec 100 m dash. All australian eyes are on you as we look to see a new champion arise much in the mould of Cathy Freeman. You are an excellent role model for all australians and we must sincerly congratulate you on your exceptional performance in Japan and wish you luck on todays meet. Well Done Patrick

Dan you surely must be impressed now.

[Jeffles]

Ran a 10.05 in the final to lose to Montgomery who ran a 10.04. He is coming of age. This is just the right time too. 30 may seem old Egan but it is prime time for sprinters to hit their peak. Linford Christie was 31 or 32 when he won in Barcelona.

A great man Patrick Johnson. Quite an athlete. Was pursued by North Queensland Coqboys NRL team.