Aussies in Action Abroad

By David Tarbotton for Athletics Australia

As international competition gradually opens up in the northern hemisphere, 11 Australians were in action in major competitions over the last week.

The year’s first Diamond League was held in Monaco on Friday evening with the undoubted Australian highlight a National record by Wollongong’s Jessica Hull in the 5000m. Placing fourth in the time of 14:43.80, Hull removed nearly four seconds from Benita Willis’ record set 18-years ago.

“With three laps to go, I was like ‘oh my goodness’ I'm never gonna finish,” Hull said.

But she drew belief in her own ability from US-based teammate Shannon Rowbury whom she was running alongside in the race.

“I took confidence that if Shannon could do it, then I could do it.”

In the men’s 5000m, Tasmanian Stewart McSweyn opened his European season with a quality performance, placing sixth in the third fastest time of his career – 13:13.22. Training partner Matt Ramsden paced the leader, Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, to a world record of 12:35.36. Ramsden, who will race over 1500m in the Stockholm this weekend, took Cheptegei through 2000m in 5:03.77 (7th on the Australian all-time list). As the current world cross country champion, Australian’s will hopefully have the opportunity to see Joshua Cheptegei race in Bathurst.

In the half-mile, Peter Bol was in the mix for a podium finish until the athletes accelerated over the last 150m. He fought on to clock his second fastest ever time of 1:44.96 in 7th. Training partner and national record holder Jo Deng was 10th in 1:46.20.

Returning to the track where he set his national 1500m record 10 years earlier, Ryan Gregson was 10th in the 1500m in 3:35.57, while Greg Gregson was 8th in the 5000m in 15:38.22.

Four days before Monaco, Commonwealth Games high jump medallist, Nicola McDermott opened her European campaign in Sollentuna (Sweden) with a solid 1.90m clearance.

In Nashville in America, Sydney pair Oli Hoare and Morgan McDonald destroyed their 1500m personal bests. Hoare, 23, ran 3:34.63, a 2.5 second PB which elevating him to 11th fastest Australian ever. The mark was inside the Tokyo Olympic standard of 3:35, although the qualifying window is currently closed by World Athletics. A 5000m specialist, McDonald, took nearly two seconds from his 1500m best clocking 3:37.42. A third Australian, Cameron Griffith, Hoare’s Sydney school mate at Trinity Grammar, was 9th in 3:40.28.

Be sure to keep an eye out for this Sunday’s Stockholm Diamond League event where more fantastic results are predicted.