Lex Revell-Lewis in action at the Sir Graeme Douglas International. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Auckland's Lex Revell-Lewis has finally taken down the longstanding 400m national record, becoming the first Kiwi to dip under 46 seconds for one circuit of a standard athletics track.
After several close calls throughout the NZ summer, Revell-Lewis finally achieved the feat at an Athletics Victoria meet in Melbourne, clocking 45.88 seconds, as he won his division by almost a full second from three-time Sri Lankan champion Aruna Dharshana, who has a personal best time below 45 seconds.
The previous national record stood at 46.09 seconds, set by Cantabrian Shaun Farrell in 1998, and the Waitākere speedster had six previous attempts within three-tenths of a second this season, including a 46.10 seconds at the Sydney Track Classic two weeks ago and 46.11 seconds at Wellington's Capital Classic in January.
Revell-Lewis, 21, crossed the Tasman in the hope of competing at the prestigious Maurie Plant Meet on Saturday night, but was edged out of the field by the arrival of a high-powered Botswanan contingent, including Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo.
Instead, he fronted for a club event the next day and delivered his groundbreaking performance in more modest circumstances.
The two-time national champion will now tailor his training towards races in Europe and the World University Games at Rhine-Ruhr, Germany in July.
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