Hoare Roars to Record | Oslo Diamond League
Published Fri 17 Jun 2022
Australia’s middle-distance talent shone bright at Oslo’s renowned Bislett Games for leg six of the Diamond League, headlined by a stunning national and area record from Oliver Hoare while Jack Rayner continued his ascension.
With three national indoor records to his name, Oliver Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein) delivered his first outdoor national record with a dazzling 3:47.48 to finish in second place of a race suitably named the Dream Mile – with only hometown hero Jakob Ingebrigtsen able to take down the Australian.
Hoare raced in his typically aggressive fashion in a bid to place the Olympic champion under pressure, and that he did as Ingebrigtsen was forced to deliver a world leading, national and Diamond League record of 3:46.46 to fend off the Australian.
“It was a special race. The Oslo Diamond League for Australians has seen a lot of records set there, it’s just a special place and tradition. For me to go out there to represent and continue that is an absolute privilege,” Hoare said.
“To have the Olympic gold medallist from Norway getting the full crowd cheering and roaring, it was pretty intimidating but also awesome to be a part of. I tried to put pressure on him [Ingebrigtsen] but he’s a lot stronger than me right now, I am really happy with that but there is still work to do.”
The result leaves Hoare optimistic ahead of the World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, where he will be eager to translate his form to global medals in the green and gold – not writing off going all the way.
“There are so many talented guys not only in our country but around the world, so for me to go out there and only lose to one guy who is the Olympic champion gives me a lot of confidence to know that I can be there medalling for my country,” Hoare said.
“Obviously everything has to fall into place through the rounds but we are training for that, I am really determined to be one of the top guys in the world and even cause an upset.”
Fellow Australian Matthew Ramsden (Nic Bideau) crossed the line in 10th place as the clock read 3:57.11.
The third fastest 5000m runner in Australian history is now a tag that now sits with Jack Rayner (Nic Bideau) after his blistering 13:06.00 for sixth place at the Bislett Games. The see-sawing encounter saw Rayner work his way through the field before assuming responsibility as the pilot in the final kilometre in a bold run for home.
Only a quartet of Ethiopians lead by Telahun Haile Bekele and the USA’s Joe Klecker could topple Rayner in the 16-strong field, as the Australian continued the rich vein of form that appears set to carry him to this year’s World Athletics Championships before turning his attention to the marathon for the Commonwealth Games.
Rohan Browning (Andrew Murphy) made his long-awaited return to the top level with a run of 10.28 (+0.5) to finish in seventh place of the 100m, a race that was won by Canada’s Andre De Grasse in 10.05.
With conditions not conducive to career-best times, Browning’s presence in the Diamond League to open his European campaign will only see the 24-year-old grow in confidence as he targets the 10-second barrier that eluded him at the Tokyo Games when running 10.01 in the first round.
While only marginally quicker than last week’s run in Rome, Catriona Bisset (Ned Brophy-Williams) registered an improved performance of 1:59.42 to take seventh place in the 800m – scrapping valiantly around the top bend in slick company.
The Australian record holder could only find real estate in lane three in the closing stages of the race as the tightly-contested field scurried for the finish, boxing on in the home straight to a respectable finish as Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson took the win in 1:57.71.
Rose Davies (Scott Westcott) felt the pinch of a progressive 5000m affair as the world’s leading middle-distance women tightened the clamps over 12.5 laps, with the Australian losing contact midway to finish in 16th place with a time of 15:20.37.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 17/6/2022
