Australian runner Jessica Hull has broken an Australian and Oceania record in the 1500m race by more than 5 seconds, just weeks out from the Paris Olympics.
Hull broke her own record with a time of 3 minutes 50.83 seconds at the Paris Diamond League, the fifth fastest time of any woman in history. The record is a strong statement of her potential as an Olympic title contender.
Hull came in second behind Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon, who managed to set a new world record time of 3 minutes 49.04 seconds. Hull’s time was the fastest non-winning time in the women’s 1500m ever.
Hull has been named a member of Australia’s Olympic team, and is now considered a frontrunner for a medal in Paris.
“The whole point of the way I have trained this year is to put myself in a position to medal in Paris,” Hull said after the record. “That goal doesn’t change. I just have to stay healthy and do it on the day that matters, August 10.”
“I was a little kid with an Olympic dream and I grew up wanting to go to the Olympics. I didn’t think 3:55 would ever be possible, so to be thinking about breaking 3:50 now is insane.”
Hull also contended with world record holder Kipyegon, who has largely been considered in a league of her own in the 1500m in recent years.
“Having grown up watching Faith and then competing against her on the circuit, I have always believed in what she was doing and to get so close to her today is mind-blowing. She was the first one to humanise these times for us girls,” Hull said afterwards.
“I said to myself that I’m basically running a 1100m race today, and if I get further, then I get further.”
Kipyegon praised Hull’s effort, saying “Jessica was really good. I felt that she was behind me and I had to be careful because you never know if something can happen.”
Fellow Australian Linden Hall also managed to claim fourth place and achieved a personal best with a time of 3:56.40.