Gout Gout sails into 200m final after Lachlan Kennedy pulls out of nationals showdown

• Gout clocks 20.11sec in heat to qualify fastest at athletics championships

• Australia’s 100m champion forced out of rematch with teenage sensation

Teenage sprint phenomenon Gout Gout looks a near-certainty for his second national 200m title after rival and newly crowned 100m champion Lachie Kennedy pulled out of the highly anticipated race.

Gout sailed through his heat on Sunday morning in a time of 20.11sec with a tailwind of +0.4m/s, almost half a second faster than any other qualifier.