The fastest man in Australian history has shattered his own record - and the Canberra product is refusing to slow down until he can take his place in the record books.
Eddie Nketia has clocked 9.74 seconds in a 100-metre sprint in the United States. The time would have shattered Patrick Johnson's national record of 9.93 seconds if not for an illegal tailwind, marking the second occasion Nketia has achieved that feat in a matter of weeks.
A tailwind of 5.6 metres per second - well clear of the legal limit of two metres per second - was roaring at the University of Nebraska during Nketia's run on Monday morning [AEST].
The Canberra product claimed the 100m and 200m crowns for the University of Southern California at the Big Ten Track and Field Championships, with Nketia quickly emerging as one of Australian athletics' most promising talents.
Nketia broke his own record at the meet in Lincoln, Nebraska, to enhance his reputation as the fastest Australian in all conditions after recording a time of 9.84 seconds with a +2.8m/s wind just weeks ago.
"It's crazy, man, to run 9.74 even with the wind. It shows I'm getting better and can see the progress and the season isn't over yet," Nketia said.
"I'm really hoping this season on the back of that to get a legal PB and show I can compete. The all-conditions record is nice, but I really want that actual record.
"I think the future is bright, when I get out of college I'm looking forward to competing everywhere including, hopefully, Europe this year."
The tailwind was recorded at a staggering 7.5m per second when Nketia - a St Edmund's College graduate - claimed the 200m title in 20.03 seconds.
Nketia had already stood as New Zealand's fastest man after taking a 28-year-old national 100-metre record from his father Gus, but has since changed allegiances to Australia.
The 25-year-old could form a formidable Australian 4x100m relay team alongside the likes of Gout Gout, Lachlan Kennedy and Rohan Browning at next year's world championships in Beijing, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"We've talked about this within our staff ... Eddie could be one of the best who've ever done it as a whole," USC track and field assistant coach Brenton Emanuel said last month.
"I can't say he'll be the best in the world because obviously Usain Bolt was an anomaly, but I definitely think Eddie has a long career in track and field.
"We've made some changes to his diet and his physique and stuff like that, and I think it's paying off."
