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Posted: 2024-01-27 08:30:37

Teenage sprint sensation Torrie Lewis has claimed the title of Australia's fastest-ever woman after bettering the national 100-metre record with a flying run of 11.10 seconds in Canberra.

The 19-year-old shaved one-hundredth of a second off the previous mark of 11.11 set by Melissa Breen 10 years ago at the same Australian Institute of Sport track.

Lewis ran the 100m-200m double at last year's national titles in Brisbane and represented Australia in the 100m and 4x100m relay at the world championships in Budapest.

The Queenslander's previous best 100m time of 11.23 was set last year in Sydney.

She bettered Breen's national record at the ACT championships on Saturday with a legal tailwind of 1.6m per second.

Lewis also bettered the great Raelene Boyle's Australian under-20 record of 11.20 which had stood since 1968.

"That junior record, which I have been very close to, I'm glad to get under it finally," she said.

"I came into this competition not even really focusing on the 100m, wanting to focus more on the 200m [on Sunday night].

"This is probably the most relaxed I have been in a competition and to be honest it paid off.

"I want to get so far and I want to do the best I can."

The now-retired Breen paid tribute to Lewis on social media platform X.

"Records are made to be broken," she wrote.

"It's been an absolute honour and privilege to be the Australian record holder of the 100m for almost a decade.

"Congratulations Torrie Lewis, coach Andrew Iselin and your entire team.

"The baton is now yours, carry it with pride and purpose every day."

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AAP

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