Australia Jess Hull shatters world record in the women 2,000 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meeting. Her remarkable performance solidifies her status as a serious contender for an Olympic medal.
Hull clocked an impressive 5:19.70, surpassing the previous world record of 5:21.56 set by Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba three years ago. Hull’s victory in this non-Olympic distance marks her first in the prestigious Diamond League series, coming just days after she shattered her personal best by five seconds in the 1,500 meters in Paris.
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At the Paris Diamond League event, Hull set an Australian and Oceanian record with a time of 3:50.83, finishing behind Kenyan legend Faith Kipyegon, who established a new world mark. Hull’s performance propelled her to fifth on the all-time list, boosting her confidence as she heads into the Paris Olympics, which begin in two weeks.
“It was incredible. When I was on my own on the last lap, everyone was cheering for me,”
said Hull, who was paced by the moving trackside light indicating her world-record pace.
“I was just looking at the lights, hoping they wouldn’t catch me. There are for sure some women who can run that 5:19, but for now, I have my place in the history books. I ran hard for this record, I worked extremely hard for this.”
Hull acknowledged feeling tired after her Paris run but managed to recover in time for Monaco. “I definitely felt the Paris race all week in my legs,” Hull said. “So, today the goal was just to be strong, even if my legs were very heavy. I ran at a different pace and level of fatigue that I have never been at before.”
Hull has twice finished seventh in the 1,500 meters at the World Championships and was 11th in the 1,500 meters final during her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago.
Kennedy Triumphs in Pole Vault; Little Shines in Javelin
On the same night, Nina Kennedy and Mackenzie Little added to Australia’s promising Olympic prospects. Kennedy won the women’s pole vault, and Little finished runner-up in the women’s javelin.
World champion Kennedy secured victory on countback from Angelica Moser, clearing 4.88 meters on her first attempt while Moser succeeded on her third. “The results show us everyone is in really good form,” Kennedy said. “Everyone is pushing for the Olympic gold. Our sport is in really good shape. Now I’ve just got a fire in my belly and I want to win in Paris.”
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Mackenzie Little, a Sydney hospital doctor, delivered a stellar performance with a first-round throw of 64.74 meters, placing her second behind world champion Haruka Kitaguchi. “I was working until the morning I left, and the week before I did night shifts to get on the European time zone,” Little said. “Now I will have time to get my eight hours of sleep in.”
In the men’s 1,500 meters, Oli Hoare finished seventh with a time of 3:31.07 in a blistering race won by Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who set a European record time of 3:26.73, becoming the first man to break 3:27 since 2015.
Conclusion
Jess Hull’s record-breaking feat and the impressive performances by Nina Kennedy and Mackenzie Little highlight a promising outlook for Australian athletes ahead of the Paris Olympics. Hull’s dedication and resilience, coupled with the strong showings from her compatriots, signal a bright future for Australia’s Olympic challenge.
