What a night at Box Hill. With thanks to Athletics Exclusive for the video footage.
A power recap:
Linden Hall Breaks Australian 1500m Record
- First Australian woman ever sub-4.
- Her time of 3:59.67 ranks her number 1 in the world for 2021, as of 2nd April 2021.
- Her time would have ranked her #3 for the 2020 year and #14 for the 2019 year.
- Linden had a pacemaker for the first 800m, she ran the rest solo.
- Jessica Hull’s previous record of 4:00.42 stood since only September 2020, and was set in Berlin against global competition.
Jye Edwards Sends a Message
- Undefeated so far this season. His latest victory at Box Hill included scalps such as Matthew Ramsden, Ryan Gregson and Jordy Williamsz.
- His winning time of 3:35.46, is just 0.46 off the Olympic standard of 3:35.00.
- Now a proven race winner, has to be considered a major threat for the Australian 1500m title.
- Runner’s Tribe interview with Jye HERE.
- Those three Olympic spots is going to be brutal. The contenders are:
- Stewart McSweyn: 3:31.81 (note his 3:30.51 on 25 September 2020 was during the Covid induced qualifying freeze).
- Matthew Ramsden: 3:34.97 (note his 3:34.83 on 15 September 2020 was during the Covid induced qualifying freeze).
- Oliver Hoare:
- 3:32.35 Indoor (13 Feb 2021) – his 3:34.63 (15 August 2020) was during the Covid induced qualifying freeze).
- Jye Edwards: 3:35.46 (1 April 2021).
- Charlie Hunter: 3:53.49 Mile (12 Feb 2021).
- Ryan Gregson: Always a threat but needs to post a time.
- White Horses: Luke Mathews, Jordy Williamsz.
Mathas Gets One Back On Bol
Justin Rinaldi coached Bol had been dominating men’s 800m running so far this season. Win after win, running oh so close to that Olympic 800m mark of 1:45.20. That is, until last night at Box Hill, when New Zealand athlete, Brad Mathas, got one back. Mathas clocked 1:46.31 to Bol’s 1:46.49.
Bol’s Olympic outlook:
- So far in 2021, the only Australian athlete showing sub 1:45 potential.
- Clocked 1:44.96 in Moncaco, August 2020. Unfortunately, this was during the Covid induced qualifying freeze.
- Clocked 1:45.23 in Canberra on 11 March 2021. So close…
View this post on Instagram
Dave McNeil Clocks PB
7:46.41 over 3000m, check out the full results here, well done Dave.
Charlie Hunter ran 1:45.90 in winning the NCAA indoor 800m title in March 2021. That would suggest he’s another Australian capable of running sub 1:45 to qualify for Tokyo.