Hull Shatters World Record as Clutch Kennedy Wins at Monaco Diamond League

Australian athletics enjoyed a golden night at the Monaco Diamond League as track star Jessica Hull rewrote history with a new world record, while pole vaulter Nina Kennedy topped a world-class field as the duo produced statement performances on the eve of the Olympic Games.

Becoming the fifth fastest woman in history over 1500m in Paris last week, Hull (Simon Hull) doubled down on her scorching form in Monaco to set a new world record of 5:19.70 over 2000m – winning the event by a margin of over six seconds.

Eclipsing the former world record of 5:21.56 set by Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and Benita Willis’ Australian record of 5:37.71, Hull blazed her way into the history books as the Paris Games draw closer, where she is touted as a title contender over 1500m.

“Listening to the crowd and taking all of that in; I have been in these races for a long time but I have never been the one that was trying to do something. I embraced that to the maximum tonight and I was really proud of what I was doing,” Hull said.

“I didn’t really have a point in the last 500m where I was going to go from, I just trusted myself. I found myself swinging wide in the straight and I thought ‘ok, I have committed now’, so I was really proud to hold my composure in a moment like this.”

Racing in a league of her own as Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GBR, 5:26.08) took second place, the Australian declared herself ready for the Olympic Games with a world record in the final race of her preparation.

“It’s all really new to me. When the start list came out, I thought that if I want to be a contender at the Olympics then this is a race that I can probably win. To think about winning the Monaco Diamond League is crazy,” Hull said.

“That world record was achievable and there’s a lot of women I compete with that can run that in their best shape. It’s going to get lowered again, 5:19 is by no means out of reach, but for this little bit of time – I’m excited to watch people chase it.” 

Fellow Australian Georgia Griffith (Nic Bideau) took fifth place in the event in a time of 5:28.82, also well under Willis’ former Australian record.

Reigning world champion Nina Kennedy (Paul Burgess & James Fitzpatrick) ramped up her Paris preparations with a pre-Olympic showdown against the world’s best in Monaco, as the bigtime performer produced a first-attempt clearance at 4.88m to separate herself from the field.

“It was a really good jump, I’m really happy with it. The girls jumped out of their skin tonight and it shows that everyone is in really good form, and everyone was close at those 4.93m bars. I think it’s going to take high 4.90’s to win the Olympics,” Kennedy said.

Forced to take a look at 4.93m with three women still in contention at the height, Kennedy toppled a world-class field including Angelica Moser (SUI, 4.88m), World Indoor champion Molly Caudery (GBR, 4.83m) and Olympic champion Katie Moon (USA, 4.66m) – the Australian buoyed by Hull’s world record in the 2000m.

“That’s what is really special about the Olympic year, everyone is showing up at their best and going for that Olympic gold. For me, it’s about staying healthy, staying happy and having the smoothest run I can to the Olympic final,” Kennedy said. 

“They were playing like some Australian anthem, so I had a hunch that Jess had done it. Her fifth fastest time in history has inspired me and a lot of Aussies, she’s amazing and so inspiring.” 

World Championships bronze medallist Mackenzie Little (Angus McEntyre) wasted no time in stamping her presence on the European scene, with the javelin thrower landing a 64.74m blow in the opening round – leading up until the final round before reigning world champion Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN) relegated the Australian to second place with a clutch 65.21m throw.

“I’m very happy with the first throw! To come off the plane from Sydney yesterday and throw like that is representative of how we’ve been training, but throughout the competition I didn’t have the stamina,” Little said.

“The competition was quite slow today and I really wasn’t able to keep the energy up, and you can’t leave Haruka in second place because she is always going to have something more in the final round. She is going to be the person to beat in Paris.”

Australian record holder Oliver Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein) left little to chance in the Men’s 1500m contest, placing himself at the business end of the field which saw Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) lower his career-best to 3:26.73, with Hoare fading in the final stretch to claim seventh place in a seasons best of 3:31.07.

Rounding out the action, the high-flying Yual Reath (Paul Cleary) marked his Diamond League debut with a 2.25m clearance for fifth place in the Men’s High Jump behind Trans-Tasman rival Hamish Kerr (NZL) who took the win with 2.33m, while Lauren Ryan (Lara Rogers) clocked 15:22.03 for 13th place in a turbulent Women’s 5000m.

Full results from the Monaco Diamond League can be found HERE, while a replay of the main program can be found HERE.

The Diamond League continues in London on July 20, with entries to be released soon. 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 13/07/2024