Quebec’s Audrey Leduc broke a 36-year-old Canadian record in the women’s 100m on Saturday, clocking 10.96 at the LSU Alumni Gold, held at Louisiana State University. Leduc bested both Angela Bailey‘s record of 10.98 seconds, set in 1987, and her own PB of 11.08. Louisiana-based sprinter Aleia Hobbs came in ahead of Leduc, in 10.88 seconds, and rounding out the podium was California’s Celera Barnes in 11.10.
Video from Head Coach @GlenroyGilbert https://t.co/2tJ5NLQ4Ce pic.twitter.com/ufN7WVe6yL
— Evan Dunfee (@EvanDunfee) April 20, 2024
“The race felt amazing, it was not perfect and that’s ok,” 25-year-old Leduc told Canadian Running post-race. “The season is young.” While she was happy with her time, Leduc felt her body positioning at the start and end of the race needed work.
With her record-breaking race, Leduc has punched her qualifying ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and upon selection for Team Canada, the 25-year-old athlete would become only the second Quebec runner in history to qualify for the 100m event. Only Julie Rocheleau accomplished this feat at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Leduc’s 2024 season has already gotten off to a remarkable start. In March, at the USPORTS Championships, she won gold in the 60m and led the Laval women’s 4 × 200m team to a silver medal. On March 30, at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida, Leduc ran what was (at the time) a huge personal best in the 100m, clocking 11.08 and eclipsing her previous best by 0.30 seconds.
Leduc also competes in the long jump; in February she was chosen as one of Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week.
Leduc is ready to see what the rest of the season will bring: “I’m very happy that I’ve done the Olympic standard and the Canadian record. I’m excited to run again.”
