Australian Rugby
Turner becomes Australia's fastest footballer
Scrum.com
September 16, 2010
Wallabies wing Lachie Turner races NRL stars Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne, Athletics Allstars Meeting, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia, September 15, 2010
(L-R) Lachie Turner, Greg Inglis and Jarryd Hayne © Getty Images
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Wallabies wing Lachie Turner can claim to be Australia's fastest footy player after winning a 100m sprint against athletes from the different codes in Sydney on Wednesday.

The race was staged in conjunction with world record holder Usain Bolt's promotional trip down under and the 10th anniversary of the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.

Taking some gloss off Turner's victory was the late withdrawal of AFL's representatives due to a clash of sponsors, but the NSW Waratah will be happy to collect the $20,000 winner-takes-all prizemoney on offer after laying down a scorching 11.10s.

Coming in behind Turner was another rugby union player, Turner's Eastwood team-mate John Grant (11.15s). Then came rugby league prodigy Jarryd Hayne (11.20s), followed by a host of other NRL stars and A-League youngster Matt Lewis.

Turner, who performed admirably in Australia's test loss to the All Blacks on Saturday, credited his come from behind win to some advice from the world's fastest man.

"The one that really helped at the end was [Bolt] telling me 'don't look at the guys around you,' just keep going and to stay relaxed," Turner said in the Australian. "But I'm sure Jarryd will want to come back next year and have another crack at me.

"It was a bit of a surprise win. I thought both Jarryd and John had me about the 60m mark, but I'm just happy to have got to the line first. I almost fell over and tried to kill myself trying to get there. I hit the guy next to me (Canterbury's Josh Morris), but it turned out all good. I only got the spikes last night, that's how unprepared I was."

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