At the London Diamond League meet on Sunday, Australian athletes Jessica Hull and Rose Davies showcased their talents by breaking their own national records in the women’s mile and 5000 metres, respectively, with both races highlighting their exceptional performances just weeks ahead of the Tokyo world championships.
Jessica Hull finished the mile race in 4:13.68, surpassing her previous record of 4:15.34 from the Monaco Diamond League nearly two years ago, positioning her sixth on the all-time list. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay won the race with a time of 4:11.88, making her the second-fastest woman in history. Hull described the experience as “very strange,” noting the race’s rapid pace and her focus on staying in touch with the leaders.
In the 5000 metres, Rose Davies clocked a remarkable 14:31.45, bettering her own record of 14:40.83 set earlier this season. Although Georgia Griffith also broke the Australian record with a time of 14:32.82, Davies finished ahead in the field, ensuring she retained the record. Davies executed a tactical race, overcoming an initial position of being boxed in to surge ahead in the final lap.
While Hull and Davies celebrated their successes, Australian teenager Cameron Myers faced a setback in the men’s 1500 metres. As he was poised to challenge for a strong finish in fourth place, he fell in a collision with Great Britain’s George Mills and Germany’s Robert Farken with only 200 metres to go. Myers referred to the incident on Instagram, expressing relief to have emerged unscathed despite the tumble.
Alongside these highlights, Eleanor Patterson continued her strong performance in the women’s high jump, claiming second place by clearing 1.93 metres. Overall, the Australian contingent is gearing up for the world championships scheduled from September 13-21, with their sights set on continued excellence in competitive athletics.