New national record for Australian middle-distance star

West Australian

21 hours ago

Rising middle-distance star Claudia Hollingsworth has smashed the Australian 800m record in a clear statement of intent a month out from the world athletics championships in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old Victorian stopped the clock at one minute 57.67 seconds in a red-hot women's 800m won by Britain's Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson at the Diamond League meet in Silesia.
High jumper Nicola Olyslagers and pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall recorded podium finishes, but the standout performance came from Hollingsworth, who consigned Catriona Bisset's previous Australian mark of 1:57.78 to history.
"It's pretty sick," said an elated Hollingsworth.
"To come down the home straight and not be sure but to look up at the big screen and see it was really exciting.
"To share it with Abbey (Caldwell) and Catriona was so special, having three Aussies in a race like this is awesome.
"I got into this mentality that they are quick races now and if you want it to be quick, you have to be in it to win it.
"I'm trying to be more aggressive and try different ways of racing leading into Tokyo because those heats are going to be quick leading into the semis and hopefully the final."
Caldwell was just behind the fifth-placed Hollingsworth in 1:57.70 - also quicker than Bisset's previous record.
The pair have been pre-selected to run the two-lap event at the world titles, with one vacancy still up for grabs.
Two-time Olympic high jump silver medallist Olyslagers made a strong return to competition after a six-week layoff, finishing second with a best clearance of 1.97m behind only reigning Olympic and world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (2m).
Marschall - the pole vault bronze medallist at the 2023 world titles in Budapest - finished in a tie for third at 5.90m early on Sunday (AEST) as he continues to flirt with the elusive 6m barrier.
Peerless world record holder Armand Duplantis from Sweden won the event with 6.10m ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, with Marschall and Dutchman Menno Vloon tying for third.
"I had a bit of a tummy issue in the last couple of days, so to come away with a 5.90 on a scrappy day, I'm very happy," said Marschall.
Paris Olympics 1500m silver medallist Jessica Hull took on the unusual role of pacemaker for her great rival and friend Faith Kipyegon, who was attempting to break the longstanding 3000m world record.
The legendary Kenyan went agonisingly close before being forced to settle for the second fastest time in history of 8:07.04 in a race she won by almost half a minute.
The world record of 8:06.11 set by China's Wang Junxia dates way back to 1993.
Rose Davies was the first Australian across the line in fourth spot in 8:36.53.
In other Australian action in Silesia, Linden Hall was sixth in the women's 1500m and Cam Myers and 2022 Commonwealth champ Olli Hoare were sixth and eighth respectively in the men's 1500m.