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Rohan Browning smashes 30-year record in encore to Olympics heroics

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Rohan Browning, pictured here breaking the 30-year meet record at the Adelaide Invitational.
Rohan Browning broke the 30-year meet record at the Adelaide Invitational. Image: Twitter/AAP

Rohan Browning has laid down a stunning marker in his first race of the 2022 season, smashing Linford Christie’s 30-year meet record in the 100m at the Adelaide Invitational.

Browning opened his domestic season on Saturday night by clocking 10.12 seconds to win from New Zealander Edward Osei-Nketia (10.19s) and Tasmanian Jack Hale (10.26s).

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The scorching time broke Christie's meet record of 10.23s, set way back in 1992.

Browning became a household name in Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when he stormed into the semi-finals.

The 24-year-old won his heat in remarkable scenes, beating Jamaican star Yohan Blake in the process.

Browning and fellow Tokyo star Peter Bol were both back in action on Saturday night, with 3000 fans turning out to watch the new heroes of Australian athletics.

Bol won the 800m in Adelaide after finishing fourth in the event in Tokyo.

"I have never had an experience like that before," Browning told AAP.

"Being swarmed by kids is just unbelievable.

"It definitely warms your heart because when you're in the trenches day-to-day, you don't think about the impact it's having beyond - you're sort of developing your own career for selfish reasons."

Peter Bol, pictured here winning the 800m final at the Adelaide Invitational.
Peter Bol wins the 800m final at the Adelaide Invitational. (AAP Image/Matt Turner)

Browning said reaching the semi-finals at the Olympics had changed his life - a sentiment echoed by Bol.

"For sure, it has changed so much," Bol told AAP after winning the 800m in one minute 47.14 seconds from Jack Lunn (1:47.43).

"Just to have that support for athletics, it's unreal, it's awesome ... look at the crowd."

Bol and Browning were both mobbed by fans in Adelaide, signing autographs and posing for photos until they were dragged away by stewards.

"I really enjoy it," Browning said.

"And any attention that can be brought to the sport is a good thing because I know how hard all the others train across all the events - it's not the easiest of sports."

Rohan Browning and Peter Bol adjusting to fame

Both Browning and Bol were basking in their popularity, adamant their new-found fame won't weigh them down in year highlighted by the world championships and the Commonwealth Games.

"The goal is to come back with medals," Bol said.

Others to chalk wins in their starts to the domestic season on Saturday night included national 400m champion Bendere Oboya, who triumphed in her first competitive 800m race.

Oboya (2:02.88) pipped Tess Kirsopp-Cole by 0.01 seconds.

"At least I have got a PB (personal best) to my name now," Oboya told AAP.

"I liked it. I have to learn how long to hold my kick for, but it was good."

In the women's 100m, Ella Connolly (11.37s) shaded Riley Day (11.40s) - but Day reversed that result in the 200m, clocking 22.99s to win from Connolly (23.18s).

South Australian Aidan Murphy (20.66s) won the men's 200m from Jake Doran (20.91s).

with AAP

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