Records Crushed as Hull and Hoare Continue Middle Distance Momentum

Two Australian track stars have solidified Australia’s status as a middle distance force, with Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare and Tokyo Olympic finalist Jessica Hull both shattering Australian records at the Oslo edition of the Diamond League in the early hours of this morning.

Taking on a star-studded field over 1500m spearheaded by hometown hero Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway), Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein) etched his name into history as the second Australian man to shatter the 3:30 barrier when clocking 3:29.41, bettering Stewart McSweyn’s Australian and Oceania record by 0.1-seconds.

The 26-year-old was thrilled to finally blast through the elusive and symbolic barrier:

“To be able to run that Australian record; the amount of brilliant, talented and fantastic athletes that have come through like Herb Elliott, Ryan Gregson, Craig Mottram and Stewy McSweyn in this event is incredible. It’s a privilege to be a part of that history and hopefully I can keep building up Australian track and field in this event,” Hoare said.

Finishing in seventh place of the race which featured eight of the top-10 ranked men in the world, the reigning Commonwealth champion faded from fourth position when cornering for the home straight – producing what he described as a bittersweet finish to his Oslo campaign:

“Running sub 3:30 was the goal today but it was also to compete and finish in that top section. A lot of those guys are going to be in the Olympic and World final so I wanted to be aggressive and put myself in a position where I could be amongst the top,” Hoare said.

“I was in a really good position, I tried to stay focussed as best as I could and I wasn’t able to hold on for that last 100m. But it’s June 15 and we have two months until the World Championships and I can’t complain with an Australian record or an Area record or the fastest race I’ve ever run with an amazingly talented field. Seventh place isn’t what I wanted but I have to come away with a positive attitude and know that I’ll be able to improve and keep going as an athlete.

“I’m looking forward to the next few months, not just for me but for all 1500m athletes. It’s such a competitive event at the moment. All the guys are running really fast and competing well. Everyone is going to grow and excel from this, and that’s my plan too.”

The reigning Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen won the race on home soil in a scorching 3:27.95, as eight men broke 3:30.

Matching Hoare’s feat in the Dream Mile was Jessica Hull (Self-coached), who officially registered the Australian and Oceania mile record to her name with a run of 4:18.24 for third place, eclipsing Linden Hall’s mark of 4:21.10.

Racing to her second consecutive Diamond League podium, Hull was proud to clinch the national record in a seventh event:

“It feels good to officially have the Australian mile record and run it in a bit more in a big time race this time around. It’s nice to run a little PB and back up a strong performance in Florence and hopefully it keeps me rolling into Stockholm,” Hull said.

“I was pretty confident that the record could go today. I know how I’m training compared to last year when I ran my then-PB, which was the [unofficial] record, so I was happy that I could give it a nudge today. I’m a different athlete to who I was a year ago.

“It’s exciting knowing that the momentum is there and I am amongst the top women in the world. It’s different to stand on the start line and even in the race this time to feel like maybe I had a shot of winning this one. We had some absences from the top women in the world but it’s exciting to consider how I could win a race like this.”

Ethiopian teenager Birke Haylom took charge in the open affair absent of the regular Diamond League leaders, opening up a gap with an assertive move on the rest of the field who were led by Hull. The Australian rallied with Cory McGee (USA) in a bid to mow down Haylom, ultimately leaving her run for victory late but not going home empty handed, as the Ethiopian saluted in 4:17.13.

“I faded a bit in the last 100m but that’s normal for me this time of the year with my training block and how the last few weeks have unfolded with some big races, so hopefully I can keep building that last 100 and get stronger as we get to Budapest.”

Linden Hall (Ned Brophy-Williams) set a personal best of 4:19.60  to finish in sixth place with the best run of her 2023 campaign, clocking a time well under her former national record. Hull’s 2022 performance of 4:19.89 was not ratified and therefore is considered unofficial.

Jack Rayner (Nic Bideau) marked his return to the track with a run of 13:38.11 for 16^th place in the 5000m, while 18-year-old Torrie Lewis (Andrew Iselin) lit up the pre-program when roaring to victory over 200m in 23.07 (+0.2).

A full replay of the 2023 Oslo Diamond League can be found HERE, while full results can be found HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse and Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 16/6/2023