Jessica Hull has returned to her winning ways at the Portland Track Festival. The Australian, running for Nike, won in a sprint finish clocking 14:57.00. Hull, the Australian 5000m champion, is a serious contender for an Olympic final berth. One of Australia's most promsing talents since Benita Willis rocked the world, she has proven herself not only fast, but a winner of important races.
Meanwhile in the Netharlands, Izzi Batt-Doyle and Rose Davies have both run Olympic 5000m qualifiers. Izzi stopped the clock at 15:04.10, with Rose behind in 15:08.48. Izzi's time takes her to #6 on the Australian all-time list. Davies, The 2020 Zatopek 10 champ, is on the rise, her time the 8th fastest all-time by an Australian. Congrats Izzi and Rose....
Some fast times in Doha overnight, as some huge names return to international athletics. Our flash recap is below:
Men's 1500m
The 2019 world 1500m champ Timothy Cheruiyot commenced his 2021 campaign where he left off in 2020, by winning. The 3:28 runner clocked 3:30.48. He beat home Australian Stewart McSweyn by just over a second (3:31.57). The race went out super fast with splits of; 400m (54.30), 800m (1:50.77),and 1200m (2:48). That's a banging fast first 2 laps. Cheruiyot was too strong over the final 150m, with the Kenyan pulling away from McSweyn. Australian's Matthew Ramsden and Ryan Gregson (now running for Puma) finished at the back of the field.
From Gateshead to Doha, the world of track and field is set for a thrilling second league of the Diamond League series. Below is our snap preview:
3:26.69 1500m runner, and three time world champion, Asbel Kiprop, says he will take Athletics Kenya (AK) to court, in order to be allowed to represent Kenya again, once his doping ban ends. Kiprop is arguing that post ban, he should be deemed innocent, and be allowed to start fresh. A viewpoint AK firmly does not agree with.
The 2011, 2013 and 2015 world 1500 champ, is currently serving a four year ban for using Erythropoietin (EPO) in 2017, his ban commenced in April 2019. The crazy talented Kenyan won the 2008 Olympic Gold 1500m medal, after it was stripped from drug cheat, Rashid Ramzi.
On a rainy and windy day in Gateshead, England, Olli Hoare has cemented his bid for selection in the 1500m for the Tokyo Olympics by finishing second at the Gateshead Diamond League. Hoare beat home fellow Australians Stewart McSweyn, Matthew Ramsden and Ryan Gregson. It will take something spectacular from Ramsden, or perhaps Rorey Hunter, for Hoare to be denied a crack at his first Olympics.
Athletics Australia has today announced that it will not send a team to the World Under 20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya this August, and will instead provide selected athletes will international competition experience at home in Australia.
Queensland young gun Ashley Moloney (QLD) is the king of Australian decathlon after a stunning performance over two days to win the event at the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships.
Moloney’s result ensures he will receive automatic nomination for selection to the Australian Olympic Team, while second place getter, Rio Olympian Cedric Dubler (QLD) will receive discretionary nomination.
Scoring a total of 8284 at the conclusion of competition, Moloney won six of the ten events, defeating Dubler and Alex Diamond (NSW) to stand atop of the podium.
Athletics Australia yesterday announced Perth as the host venue for both the 2022 and 2025 Australian Track & Field Championships.
The announcement was made today on Day 4 of the 2021 edition of the Championships in Sydney, where athletes from across the country are currently competing for coveted national titles in what is also the last major hit out on home soil before the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Delivered by Athletics Australia and supported by Tourism WA, Athletics West and VenuesWest, the 2022 and 2025 Australian Track and Field Championships will take place at the Western Australian Athletics Stadium, and will be the primary qualification trial for athletes aiming for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and both the 2022 and 2025 World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships.
The women’s 400m saw a strong field of Australian talent line up over three heats. Bendere Oboya (NSW) produced a smooth run over one lap to take the win over Gabriella O’Grady (NSW) and Kendra Hubbard (VIC), while Rio Olympian Anneliese Rubie-Renshaw (NSW) crossed the line first in the second heat. In the third, it was 18-year-old Ellie Beer who placed first, ahead of Rebecca Bennett (NSW) and Jessica Thornton (NSW).
