Bernadette Duggan reckons “we always knew”.
Even from an early age back at local schools, Torrie Lewis would hit the track and “we’d all come out of the recording room just to watch her race.”
Duggan, the sport’s education officer for Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, was one of many across the Hunter tuned in or waking up to Lewis’ historic moment on Wednesday morning (AEST).
Lewis, 21, became the first Australian woman to run sub 11 seconds, twice breaking her own national record in the space of two hours en route to securing a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the 100 metres final.
The star sprinter’s time of 10.99s was produced on a rain-soaked Glasgow night, a far cry from sunny athletics carnivals back home during her formative years.
“We always knew. We’d come out of the recording room just to watch her race,” Duggan told the Newcastle Herald.
“Torrie just had a natural confidence, a beautiful style and a real calmness about her.
“I’ve been involved in school sport for 27 tears, there’s excellence and then there’s something else. She’s something else.”
Lewis’ old primary school, St Paul’s at Gateshead, was abuzz following the overnight effort at Scotstoun Stadium.
Long-time teacher Louise Lonsdale said it “was very exciting at assembly. A lot of the kids had watched it at home. We acknowledged the race and gave her a big clap.”
A recent social media post from the school, sending best wishes for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, was shared by alumni Lewis, simply replying “thank you”.
Before making the now infamous code hop across to Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club, based at Glendale, Lewis initially began her sporting journey at nearby Blackert Gymnastics Academy (BGA) in Bennetts Green.
BGA sent Lewis heartfelt congratulations via Instagram: “You absolute legend. Hard work paying off. We’re so incredibly proud of you and delighted for you.”
Lewis, born in the UK, was aged around six when she landed Down Under with single mum Wendy and remained in this region until attending year 10 at St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead.
A stint in Brisbane, including year 12 at St Peter’s Lutheran College, was eventually followed by relocating overseas. Lewis now lives and trains in The Netherlands.
Her latest performance resonated far and wide.
Seven Network commentator Bruce McAvaney described it as “all your Christmases coming at once” while studio host Matt White felt like “she’s had the night of her life”.
Track and field journalist Mitch Dyer penned this via X, previously known as Twitter.
“Torrie Lewis proves once again why records are transcribed in pencil, to be removed time and time again by excellence,” Dyer said.
“The first woman in history to break the sub 11 marker, it will be one of the great pub trivia questions in the years to come for what is truly the beginning of a generational career.”
Lewis has now shaved 0.11 seconds off the women’s national 100m record since first running 11.10s in January, 2024, taking over the mantle from former sprint queens Melissa Breen (11.11s) and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (11.12s).
But the drop in the space of this week alone has been staggering.
Her personal best from last year’s World Championships (11.08s) improved to 11.04s during a lead-up meet in Slovakia on July 21.
Fast forward to Glasgow on July 28, she qualified quickest with 11s flat in the semi before going where no Aussie woman had ever gone before in the final (10.99s).
“Thank God,” Lewis, during a post-race interview with the Seven Network, said in relation to breaking the 11-second barrier.
“I was so nervous after my semi being the fastest qualifier, just need to do it again and better hopefully. Just glad I could do it.”
She added: “Perfect race for me.”
Lewis, who finished third behind New Zealand winner Zoe Hobbs (10.93s) and English runner-up Amy Hunt (10.98s), overcame a recent Achilles injury to take her place on the start line.
She’s the first Aussie to medal at this Commonwealth Games event (women’s 100m) since Tania Van Heer, also bronze, in 1998.
“I think it’s just the adrenaline of the situation,” she said.
“The Commonwealth Games means a lot to me and I’ve been working towards this for the whole year, so I was just like I don’t care if I’m going to limp off the track I’m going to run.”
Amid celebrations – Aussie flag draped around her shoulders, traditional photographs with finger pointed at the digital clock and that trademark smile – Lewis travelled over to the other side of the venue to be embraced by her Scottish grandmother.
In the same session Flame teammate Lachlan Kennedy (9.85s) collected silver in the men’s 100m final with a national record of his own while Ky Robinson won the men’s 10,000m and Eleanor Patterson-Nicola Olyslagers quinellaed the women’s high jump.
Still to come on Lewis’ Commonwealth Games program are the 200m and 4x100m relay.
