Australian runner Jessica Hull has advanced to the 1500m “mega-final” at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a time of 3 minutes 55.40 seconds – her second-fastest time ever.
Hull holds the Australian and Oceania record of 3 minutes 50.83 seconds, which she broke only a month ago.
On Friday morning (AEST), Hull comfortably crossed the semi-finals finish line in second place, just edged out by Ethiopian Diribe Welteji.
As a strong contender for an Olympic medal, Hull could become the first Australian since Herb Elliott in 1960 to win an Olympic 1500m gold.
She’ll be running the final in a field of strong women, including Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon, who currently holds the world record in the 1500m race, with a time of 3 minutes 49.04 seconds.
“I do (believe I can win the gold),” said 27-year-old Hull.
“It’s the greatest time for the 1500 ever, we’re saying 3:56 just to make the final from the heat so that’s insane.”
“It’s a privilege to be in the position where people are talking about me as a medal contender, let alone a gold medal contender,” she said.
“Faith is not going to go down without an absolute fight, the Ethiopians are ready as well, so it’s going to be a mega-final on Saturday night.”
Hull has been laying down some extremely strong races over the last 12 months. In May, she became the first Australian athlete to ever run the 1500m event faster than 3:56 in the women’s race.
Hull was preselected for the Australian Olympic team in April, with this being her second Olympic games, as she finished 11th at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Last month, she ran an incredible 3:50.83 time at Paris’s Diamond League, which lifted her to the fifth spot on the all-time list.
The Paris Olympics 1500m final will take place on Sunday, August 11th at 4:15am (AEST).