Australia’s top track and field talent have launched onto the international circuit in spectacular style, claiming five podium finishes and two national records by Rose Davies and Abbey Caldwell in the opening leg of the Diamond League series in Xiamen, China. 

Olympic medallists and NSWIS scholarship holders Eleanor Patterson (NSW) and Nicola Olyslagers (NSW) once again proved their podium pedigree, finishing second and third respectively in another world-class high jump contest.

Both Australians cleared 1.94m, with Patterson taking silver after an early miss at 1.91m, while Olyslagers secured bronze on countback after a stumble at 1.94m. Neither athlete was able to clear 1.97m but the high-flying duo were able to maintain their consistent status among the world’s best, with only world record holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), who soared to victory with a 1.97m clearance.

“It was a lot of fun out there, I’ve enjoyed my time in Xiamen. I would have loved to have jumped a bit higher though,” Patterson said.

“It was a really fast track and there was a huge clearance over 1.94m, and then my rhythm got lost over 1.97m.”

“It’s so fast, so I think a lot of the girls weren’t quite ready for that. I’m ready to jump a lot higher and this is a good stepping stone for that. It’s the first Diamond League of the year and we get to settle into China a little bit more, with our next comp next week so I’m really excited.”

It was a record-breaking night for Australia’s distance stars Abbey Caldwell (VIC) and Rose Davies (NSW), who shattered the 1000m and 5000m Australian records respectively with determined runs against the classiest of distance runners.

Facing a field of 13 East African runners, Davies was the first non-African across the line in the 5000m clocking 14:40.83 to lower her own Australian record by 0.82-seconds.  Back in action after a third-place finish at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth as well as a month-long knee injury, Davies was ecstatic to finish ninth and open her international campaign with a new personal best.

“I’m stoked. I feel like I’m still trying to get my stride this season. It’s only my second 5km race, after Nationals last week but I’ve been injured for the last month or so. I’m really happy that I came out and got out there with a national record,” Davies said.

“I knew I had it in me and training has been going really well, but it’s always really hard to put it together on the track. This track is amazing though. I came out here yesterday and I felt the vibe in here, so I’m really happy.”

Also impressing in the 5000m was Maudie Skyring (VIC) who became just the ninth Australian to break the 15-minute barrier, with a 14:55.93 performance that saw her rise to number six on the country’s all-time list.  Georgia Griffith (VIC) placed 16th in 15:17.50.

Meanwhile, Caldwell etched her name into the Australian record books once more, regaining the Australian 1000m record in a race that saw Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon (KEN) narrowly miss her own world record.

Caldwell crossed the finish line in second-place to set a new Area Record of 2:32.94, while compatriot Sarah Billings (VIC) rounded out the podium in third with the second fastest time by an Australian in 2:33.45.

Training partners Carley Thomas (VIC) and Bendere Oboya (VIC) took advantage of the fast pace of the 1000m, with Thomas finishing in sixth in a personal best time of 2:35.06 and Oboya ninth in 2:41.83.

In a dazzling Diamond League debut, Liam Adcock (NSW) delivered a soaring performance to finish second in the Men’s Long Jump, leaping to silver with a jump of 8.15m (-0.1) and celebrating in style with a backflip for the crowd in China.

With a World Indoor bronze medal to his name, Adcock maintained the lead until the fifth round when China’s Mingkun Zhang snatched victory with an 8.18m (-0.5) effort.

“The crowd was so good, I had fun out there. It’s been good for my first Diamond League for me, but I hadn’t quite got used to the timezone yet and it’s late at home, so I think I could have got more in me,” he said.

Adding to the night’s momentum, Lachlan Kennedy (QLD) – Australia’s second fastest man in history –  made an impressive Diamond League debut of his own, storming to fifth place in a stacked Men’s 100m.

Clocking 10.18 (+0.2) alongside USA sprinting legend Christian Coleman, Kennedy forced a photo finish between the two, and also defeated major names including Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (BOT) and Rohan Watson (JAM) as Akani Simbine (RSA) took the win in 9.99-seconds.

Three-time Olympian Kurtis Marschall (WA) began his first of two Diamond League competitions in China, finishing sixth in the Men’s Pole Vault with a 5.62m clearance, while Liz Clay (QLD) made her return to the Diamond League circuit, finishing eighth in the Women’s 100m Hurdles in 13.19 (-0.2).

In non-Diamond League action, Paris Olympian and NSWIS athlete Connor Murphy (NSW) showed form in the Men’s Triple Jump, finishing in sixth place. Seeded last among the nine competitors on paper, Murphy leapt 16.50m to continue his upward climb on the global stage.

The Diamond League is the world’s premier athletics series crossing four continents over 15 meets, with the tour travelling next to Shanghai on May 3.

Story: Australian Athletics

Feature Image: Getty

Tags Connor MurphyEleanor PattersonNICOLA OLYSLAGERS
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