WEEKEND REVIEW | Hull returns and young guns shine
Published Mon 17 May 2021
With the domestic season drawing to a close, all eyes turn to the international circuit as some of Australia’s best young talent and established elites look to keep the strong performances coming.
Jessica Hull (Pete Julian) made her long-awaited season debut with a strong run of 4:04.16 over 1500m. The time was good enough to finish in third place and secure yet another Olympic qualifier for Hull, matching her 2020 season opener.
Hull is currently in the middle of an altitude training camp as she prepares for the European circuit and Tokyo Olympics where she will line up as one of Australia’s most promising middle-distance hopes.
Morgan McDonald (Joe Bosshard) raced over 10,000m, with his 27:58.75 result the first sub 28-minute performance of his career. McDonald finished in 10th place in the stacked field, with fellow Australian Patrick Tiernan (Mark Rowland) pacing the field through 6.4 kilometres.
Amelia Mazza-Downie (Joe Franklin) also registered a 10,000m personal best over the weekend when clocking 33:05.71. The 21-year-old has navigated her way through a difficult period with injury and is now building strong momentum on the track.
Heidi See (Terrence Mahon) came away from the Soundrunning Track Meet with a new personal best of 15:18.24 in the 5000m. The performance forces See’s name into Olympic 5000m discussions, bolstering Australia’s strong distance stocks at the elite level. The Olympic standard stands at 15:10.00, with Jessica Hull the only Australian to achieve the feat to date. At the same meet, Lauren Ryan put her first time on the board after returning to America with a run of 15:36.18 over 5000m.
Ky Robinson tore his way around the 3000m Steeplechase in a time of 8:41.81, narrowly missing Glen Stojanovic’s Australian Under 20 record of 8:40.62. The run was not without drama though, with Robinson suffering a nasty fall before picking himself up to finish in third place with what was a courageous performance.
Zach Facioni was already enjoying a breakout season but last weekend’s 13:30.84 over 5000m was his best performance to date. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of Australia’s best young talents competing in the NCAA system and appears to have found his sweet spot over 5000m.
Carley Thomas (Maurica Powell) continued to make progress upon her recent return to competition after breaking her leg in 2020, this time clocking 2:05.57 in her second 800m race of the season, to finish second place in her heat. In the previous heat, 22-year-old Jemima Russell managed to finish in fourth place in a time of 2:05.97.
Maudie Skyring had a breakthrough performance in the 1500m, sneaking under the 4-minute and 10-second barrier in a time of 4:09.99. It's a time that has only been bettered by a handful of Australians in 2021 and has Skyring knocking on the door of Australia's elite women.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 17/5/2021
