Advertisement

Aussie teen stuns with incredible Nitro Athletics performance

Aussie 16-year-old Riley Day is being tipped as a superstar in the making after only finishing behind a former world champion in the Nitro Athletics 100 metres.

Day ran against Usain Bolt in the mixed relay on the opening night of Nitro last Saturday, and she was back in action on Thursday.

HEARTBREAK: Aussies disqualified, stripped of Nitro victory

Against a star-studded field including Jamaica's 2015 world champion Natasha Morrison, Day stormed home in 11.71 to finish second.

Day in action. Image: Getty
Day in action. Image: Getty

The remarkable run drew praise from Olympian Tamsyn Lewis.

"She deals with pressure very well for a 16-year-old doesn't she?" Lewis said in commentary.

"There's still work to be done but she's young and full of confidence."

Fellow commentator Bruce McAvaney was also impressed.

"Riley Day's back-end of the 100 was awesome!" he said.

"It just shows what a great young prospect she is."

Day dominated the under-18 100m and 200m finals at the Australian All Schools championships in December, breaking records held by Lauren Hewitt and Sally Pearson along the way.

She is the youngest member of Australia's Nitro team.

With her and fellow teenager Jack Hale continuing to impress, the future of Aussie athletics appears to be in safe hands.