A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships | Camaraderie raises up Australian middle distance ranks

In the world of elite sport, stories of rivalries and cut-throat competition often prevail but within Australia’s middle-distance ranks, a heart-warming tale of camaraderie unfolds as three women lift each other on their road to the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

From Jessica Hull and Linden Hall exchanging the national record baton five times to four of the country’s all-time top-10 athletes etching their names into the history books over the past two years, the talent within Australia’s current 1500m crop is undeniable.

On paper, Australia’s Budapest line up of Hull, Hall and Abbey Caldwell may be perceived as rivals but beneath the surface, they share a support system that has become a hallmark of their journey.

“Those girls, they’re the most influential people in my life,” Caldwell said.

“I look up to them, and think, wow, I just want to be able to do what they do. It’s inspiring to be around them, and as they say, if one person rises, it brings everyone else up.”

The notion of sisterhood among competitors is not a new one, but the way the trio have embraced it is truly exceptional. One glance of the track after this year’s National Championship race and spectators could see Caldwell and Hall embrace Hull in her win. At the Commonwealth Games, it was Hall and Hull who rallied around Caldwell as their compatriot won bronze.

Hall, the current national record holder and the first Australian female to break the four-minute barrier said the trio offer up a constant source of inspiration to each other.

“We’re all pretty friendly but we secretly want to be number one. That’s what makes us all so good. Hall said.

“Seeing Jess run 3:57 made me feel like I could run 3:57, whereas two year ago, I thought that was a crazy time, so far out of reach. Without each other, we’d probably all be running a couple of seconds slower, so it’s almost like a team sport for us.”

The younger of the trio, Caldwell has skyrocketed up the ranks at just 22-years-old but has said her friendly foes have made the environment warm, welcoming and a place to thrive.

“We do know that once we are on the track, that whatever happens out there stays on the track. That’s just racing.  But even when I cross the line, they are always some of the first people that come up to me, regardless of the result. We just want the best for each other,” she said.

“It’s of course nice to have people running that fast in Australia and having that influence from them above you, but the best part is that they are such great girls. It’s the most rewarding thing when you receive a message from one of them, being your closest competitors. I don’t think there are many other nations that have that tight-knit crew of athletes.”

Hull who heads to Budapest with six national records to her name said the spark she gets from seeing her friends reach new heights is what she loves most about the sport.

“We really are so lucky to have each other. Racing against each other domestically sharpens us to compete against the rest of the world, and then when we’re overseas together, we get to share the experience together,” Hull said.

“It’s incredible to genuinely celebrate each other's PBs and national records all the way. When Linden re-broke the Australian record in Silesia, I was so proud of her because I’d been able to see a big one was coming for her.”

“Each time someone runs faster or puts a race together that suggests they are on the brink of something bigger, we all see that.

“That shared admiration is unique, and it challenges each of us to level up again. We benefit from that, but it’s the sport is what truly benefits!”

The trio will rally around each other again this week, as they begin their 1500m campaign on Day 1 of competition at 10.15pm AEST. Australian audiences can watch live and free on SBS on beIN Sports.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 14/8/2023