Linden Hall - 2018 a HUGE year

Linden Hall had a stellar year in 2018, with 2019 not being a dream run for her - what can she achieve in her first hit out of the 2020 season at the Melbourne Track Classic. 

She is racing in the 5000m Australian Championships. 

The below article is from Australian Athlete Issue 2. 

Tickets for the Melbourne Track Classic - https://bit.ly/2Sa6mxV

By Grace Kalac

When asked to describe her 2018 season, Linden Hall has just one word, “huge”.

It was a season characterised by success, headlined by her first open national title, two national records and four personal bests. She also recalls the season as huge in duration, as it spanned over an incredible nine months.

The Olympian kick-started her season in January with a 5000m personal best at the Newcastle Track Classic, clocking an impressive 15:18.77. Not long after, she seized another lifetime best, 8:53.27 in the 3000m at the Sydney Track Classic in March.

These two notable performances acted as precursors for the prosperous season to come, and what a season it was for Hall.

But that’s not to say there were no bittersweet moments along the way. 

While her fantastic fourth place performance in the 1500m at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games marked her best championship result to date, it narrowly missed her unwavering goal of a spot on the dais, which proved heartbreaking for the 27-year-old.

It was a brave run, with Hall racing assertively in her bid for a podium finish, only to be eclipsed in the dying moments. But while her gutsy run did not pay dividends, Hall said she has no regrets about how she attacked the race.

“I stuck to the plan, even though it was a kind of scary way to go about it. We knew it was the best chance to play to my strengths and we hoped it would hurt those of some others,” Hall said.

“While it didn’t quite end with the outcome we were hoping, I would run it the same again if I had the chance.”

Despite the end result, Hall still reflects fondly on the Commonwealth Games and the exhilaration that came with competing at a home championship.

The boom of the Team Hall support crew was omnipresent around Carrara Stadium, and to run before a home crowd was a dream come true for Hall.

“To be able to have so many friends, family and training partners there in the stands along with every other Aussie fan at Carrara was so special,” Hall said.

“Having so many amazing people around me during the championships, including supporters and teammates, made the bit of disappointment easier to swallow.”

The race also instilled perspective in Hall, a new sense of confidence that she has the capabilities to contest the best in the world.

And after recording a season’s best, at the time, of 4:03.67 at the Games, both Hall and her coach Bruce Scriven knew she was prepped to run fast in her overseas ventures.

That she did. Just one month later, Hall staged her redemption. She converted heartbreak into jubilation, with a new 1500m personal best and Australian record of 4:00.86 at the Prefontaine Classic at Oregon’s historic Hayward Field.

In an apt handover, the former record belonged to Sarah Jamieson, Hall’s former coach and long-time idol.

The 12-year-old record had sat firmly in Hall’s sights since 2016, when she clocked 4:01.78 at the same meet, propelling her to third on the Australian all-time list.

Hall said finally capturing the record felt like she had “ticked a huge box”.

“It was pretty surreal. It was something I’d thought about for so long and it took a while for me to believe it after seeing the time pop up next to my name,” Hall said.

“The support I received from everyone around me was amazing, and it was so special to share it with everyone who helped get me there.”

Hall’s record-breaking 1500m performance sparked a flurry of impressive results across the remainder of the season, spearheaded by a second Australian record, this time in the mile.

In July at the London Diamond League, Hall clocked 4:21.40, slicing over one second off Lisa Corrigan’s 2007-mile record.

“When we found out London would be a mile rather than a 1500m, the record definitely became a target,” Hall said.

“In 2017, I came close to the record at the same meet. Having run much faster over 1500m in 2018 compared to 2017, the mile record became a very realistic goal.”

Following what she claims was a “largely disappointing” 2017, Hall believes this year clicked for a number of reasons.

She said she drew motivation from the unsatisfying 2017 season, as well as the chance to compete at a home Commonwealth Games. Importantly, completing her Master of Dietetics degree in 2017 also provided Hall with the freedom to focus solely on her track goals.

Fast-forward one year and Hall wraps up 2018 with a collection of accolades and a renewed self-assurance. And with this, comes new goals ahead of the 2019 Doha World Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“There is always more to chase. Breaking the 1500m record was a huge milestone but we’re still chasing the sub-four-minute 1500m,” Hall said.

“Looking towards Doha and Tokyo, top eight is where our attention is for these championships. I’m really excited to start working towards these goals.”